Mar

20

What keeps the states from establishing an official religion?

Filed Under Law & Ethics | 20 Comments

religion
Aleksandr asked:


Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This specifically refers to Congress. Why can’t the states ordain their own official religions, ban other religions, control what people can say or print, or ban assemblies? Or ban petitions?
Of the 14th amendment, which part? No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States?
Not a Christian fundamentalist or anything, by the way, just trying to understand how the law works… it specifically states the Congress may not do these things, not the States… if anything, there should be an amendment to correct this oversight

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