Engel v. Vitale

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.

Writ

a written order issued by a court, commanding a person to perform or stop performing a specific act

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”

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