Engel V

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Miami Dade College, Miami *

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MISC

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Philosophy

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Gabrielle Machin AP Period:7 Engel V. Vitale Court case Brief Summary: The New York State Board of Regents produced a brief, interfaith prayer known as the Regents' Prayer. It was intended to be recited by pupils willingly at the start of each school day. Although the prayer did not name a particular god, some people saw it as a religious ritual. The Regents' Prayer was a brief, interfaith prayer created by the Board of Regents in 1951. It is often referred to as the official prayer of the New York State Board of Regents. In New York state schools, children were expected to voluntarily recite the prayer at the start of each school day. The prayer's text said, "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country." Outcome: The Court's interpretation of the Establishment Clause was established in Engel v. Vitale, which held that state-sponsored prayers in public schools are unconstitutional. In the context of public education, the ruling upheld the separation of church and state premise. Majority Opinion: The Supreme Court declared that the state-sponsored prayer in public schools was unconstitutional in a historic 6-1 ruling. The majority opinion was authored by Justice Hugo L. Black. opposed to the Regents' Prayer being taught in public schools. Writing for the majority, Justice Hugo Black claimed that any government-sponsored prayer in public schools—regardless of whether it is optional—violates the Establishment Clause because it amounts to the government promoting a particular religion.
Gabrielle Machin AP Period:7 Engel V. Vitale Court case Brief Dissent: Justice Potter Stewart wrote the only dissenting opinion in Engel v. Vitale, 1962. Justice Stewart disagreed with the majority's determination that the state-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. Engel v. Vitale had a significant impact on the role of religion in public schools. The decision set a precedent that the government, including public schools, must maintain a strict separation from religious activities to uphold the constitutional principle of religious freedom.
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