First Amendment Religious Liberties: Supreme Court Decisions and Public Opinion, 1947-2013 (Law and Society)

Cook Analyzes The Relationship Between Supreme Court Decisions And Public Opinion Concerning First Amendment Religious Liberties. Overall, The Court Has Issued Opinions Consistent With Public Opinion In A Majority Of Its Decisions Dealing With The First Amendment's Religion Clauses, With A Level Of Congruence Of Almost Seventy Percent When A Clear Public Opinion Expression Is Present. She Also Provides A New Perspective For Understanding The Long And Contentious Debate About Prayer In Public School By Identifying An Area Of Agreement Between The Court And Public Opinion That Has Not Received Much Attention. Introduction -- Historical Background -- Religion In Public School -- Religious Expressions And Government Property -- Public Aid For Religion -- Free Exercise -- Conclusion. Tracy L. Cook. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 211-221) And Index.

Cook analyzes the relationship between Supreme Court decisions and public opinion concerning First Amendment religious liberties. Overall, the Court has issued opinions consistent with public opinion in a majority of its decisions dealing with the First Amendment's religion clauses, with a level of congruence of almost seventy percent when a clear public opinion expression is present. She also provides a new perspective for understanding the long and contentious debate about prayer in public school by identifying an area of agreement between the Court and public opinion that has not received much attention.