The Rise and Decline of the Constitutional Protection of Religious Liberty

Authors

Jesse H. Choper, University of California Berkeley LawFollow

Abstract

I. The Early Insignificance of the Free Exercise Clause ... A. Free Exercise Violations Abridging the Freedom of Speech ... B. Rejection of Free Exercise Claims Involving Religiously Motivated Conduct

II. The Court Vitalizes the Free Exercise Clause

III. Rejection of Subsequent Free Exercise Claims ... A. Government Interests in National Defense and Combatting Racial Discrimination in Education ... B. Special Contexts: Military and Prison Affairs ... C. Compelling Government Interest in an Exemption-Free Tax System ... D. A Structural Distinction Limiting the Scope of the Free Exercise Clause

IV. Evaluating Smith

V. The Remaining Protection of Religious Liberty under the Free Exercise Clause

VI. The Aftermath of Smith

VII. Conclusion

Recommended Citation

Jesse H. Choper, The Rise and Decline of the Constitutional Protection of Religious Liberty, 70 Neb. L. Rev. (1991)
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nlr/vol70/iss4/2