Engel v. Vitale

Engel v. Vitale

Year:Decided on June,25,1962

Results:6 votes for Engel, 1 votes against, in favor of Engel

Constitutional Issue:"Establishment clause" under the 1st amendment

Civil Rights/Liberties:Civil Liberties

Significance:The government established that states can not permit any official religious practices cause it is a violation of the "Establishment Clause" under the 1st amendment.

Quote from Majority Opinion: Justice Black said that "Amendment's prohibition against governmental establishment of religion, as reinforced by the provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment, government in this country, be it state or federal, is without power to prescribe by law any particular form of prayer which is to be used as an official prayer in carrying on any program of governmentally sponsored religious activity"

Dissent:Justice Stewart wrote that the court couldn't formally prove that New York had actually violated the "Establishment Clause."Also that they had misapplied the clause and he couldn't understand how letting one pray violated this clause


6 Word Summary:Religious practice in school deemed unconstitutional