Regulating Religion & Speech Flashcards
What does the Free Exercise Clause protect?
Belief in religion.
What is the principal behind the freedom of expression?
Prohibiting the government from distorting the marketplace of ideas
Unlawful advocacy occurs when?
- The speaker intends to bring about imminent unlawful action, and;
- Will actually bring about the action.
* More Info:* Unlawful Advocacy
What qualifies as fighting words as a form of unprotected speech?
Fighting words are likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction (e.g. direct personal insult).
Statutes banning fighting words cannot be: (1) vague or overboard; and, (2) cannot punish specific viewpoints.
Define hostile audience speech.
Hostile audience speech occurs when words will incite a crowd reaction to harm the speaker.
Define a prior restraint on speech.
When the government blocks speech before it is uttered. There is a strong presumption against this type of government action.
Define a public forum.
A place where the public generally goes and talks (i.e. parks and sidewalks) with unrestricted access.
More Info: Public Forum
What are the elements required for unprotected obscene speech?
- The work appeals to sexual interests +
- The work depicts or describes in a patently offensive type of sexual conduct specifically banned by state statute +
- The work taken as a whole lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.
If commercial speech is neither false nor unlawful, what is the test for government regulation of that speech?
(1) The speech serves a substantial governmental interest +
(2) The speech directly advances that interest +
(3) The regulation is not more extensive than necessary to serve that interest.
What is the test applied to a regulation on indecent speech?
The regulation is based upon secondary effects of the speech +
There is a substantial government interest +
There are reasonable alternative channels for expression.
What is the test applied to a regulation of conduct which creates an incidental burden on speech?
The regulation will stand if:
The regulation furthers an important interest that is unrelated to the speech +
There is no greater burden imposed than is necessary to serve the interest.
What test is applied to determine the constitutionality of time, place, and manner regulations of speech and assembly in public places?
The regulation must be content neutral +
The regulation must be narrowly tailored to serve an important government interest +
The regulation must leave open alternative channels of expression.
Speech-related activities in non-public forums, such as military bases, jails, government workplaces, and mailboxes can be regulated by viewpoint-neutral regulations. What is the test applied by the Court to evaluate these regulations?
The regulation must be:
Viewpoint neutral +
Reasonably related to a government interest.
What factors must be evaluated to determine if a restraining order against pretrial publicity (gag order) is appropriate?
The nature of the pretrial publicity +
The availability of adequate alternatives +
The likely effectiveness of the restraining order.
What elements are required for a speaker be convicted for incitement?
They intend to produce lawbreaking that is:
Imminent +
Likely.
Overbreadth is an exception to what doctrine?
Third Party Standing.
What level of scrutiny is applied to a government program preferring one religion, or one religious sect, over another?
Strict Scrutiny Analysis.
What triggers the Non-Establishment Clause?
Government action that results in the preference of one religion or religion generally.
What test is applied to legislation or a government program that is neutral on its face, but benefits a particular religion?
- *Lemon test:** is the government favoring a particular religion or treating like other organizations?
1. Statute must have a secular purpose+
- The primary effect must neither advance nor inhibit religion+
- There cannot be excessive government entanglement with religion.
* More Info:* Lemon Test
What is the constitutionality of school prayer?
Per se uncontitutional.
What is the constitutionality of a period of silence for school prayer?
Unconstitutional because there is a religious motive.
What is the constitutionality of having the Ten Commandments in a classroom?
Unconstitutional.
What is the constitutionality of clergy giving prayers at a public school graduation?
Unconstitutional.
What is the constitutionality of student led prayer at a public high school football game?
Unconstitutional.
What is the constitutionality of a religious club holding its meetings in a public school?
Constitutional if there are a broad range of organizations using the facilities.
Can a public school require creationism to be taught alongside evolution?
No, the government cannot teach creationism as truth.
Can a city celebrate christmas?
Yes, if the religious symbols are surrounded with other symbols.
What is the constitutionality of placing the Ten Commandments on the walls of courthouses?
Unconstitutional, unless they are surrounded by other monuments.