Engel v. Vitale
Writ
a written order issued by a court, commanding a person to perform or stop performing a specific act
Violate (Violation)
to break or disregard (a law or promise, for example)
Voluntary
done of one’s own accord or by free choice; not mandatory.
Nondenominational
not connected with any particular religious group; not connected with any particular branch of Christianity.
Plaintiff
the person (or group of people) who brings a lawsuit in a court; the party suing the defendant for damages.
Free exercise clause
the part of the First Amendment that protects the right to freely exercise one’s religion: “Congress shall make no law … prohibiting the free exercise” of religion.
Establishment Clause
the part of the First Amendment that protects Americans from government-sponsored religion: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”
