Engel v. Vitale

Written By Jonathan Milner

Definition

Engel v. Vitale (1962) was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, due to violation of the First Amendment. The New York State Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day. A group of organizations joined forces in challenging the prayer, claiming that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The New York Court of Appeals rejected their arguments. 6-1 The state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if  participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a particular religion. In an opinion authored by Hugo L. Black, the Court held that  respondent's decision to use its school system to facilitate recitation  of the official prayer violated the Establishment Clause. Specifically,  the policy breached the constitutional wall of separation between church and state. The Court ruled that the constitutional prohibition of laws  establishing religion meant that government had no business drafting  formal prayers for any segment of its population to repeat in a  government-sponsored religious program. The Court held that respondent's  provision of the contested daily prayer was inconsistent with the  Establishment Clause.

Example

 
 

Questions

  1. What was the main outcome of Engel v. Vitale?

  2. What was the main constitutional issue in Engel v. Vitale?

  3. Which clause of the First Amendment was central to the case of Engel v. Vitale?

  4. Explain the connection between Engel v. Vitale and freedom from religion?

  5. What would have happened to Supreme Court power had Engel v. Vitale been decided the other way?

  6. Do you think that Engel v. Vitale will be overturned one day?

  7. According to the ruling in Engel v. Vitale, is there a wall of separation between church and state?

  8. What emoji would do a good job of expressing the concept separation of church and state?

  9. How has the ruling in Engel v. Vitale impacted your life?

  10. How would you have ruled had you been chief justice Earl Warrren in the case of Engel v. Vitale?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw Engel v. Vitale! Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

Completed Rubrics for all 14 Required Landmark Supreme Court Cases
$28.00

There’s a lot you need to know about each Landmark Supreme Court Case and there’s also a lot you don’t need to know. We’ll help you focus on exactly what you’ve gotta know and then organize your information with our Landmark Supreme Court Case rubrics.

BUY NOW

GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
Previous

Baker v. Carr
Next

Gideon v. Wainwright