Which case established the test for evaluating government aid to religion under the Establishment Clause?

• A. Employment Division v. Smith
• B. Lau v. Nichols
• C. Lemon v. Kurtzman
• D. Garcetti v. Ceballos

Answer: (C)

This question tests understanding of how the Establishment Clause is evaluated when the government provides aid to religion. The best answer is Lemon v. Kurtzman, which established a three-part test for reviewing government aid to religious institutions. The test asks whether the government action has a secular purpose, whether its primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion, and whether it results in excessive entanglement between government and religion. This framework became the traditional standard for judging whether public funding or support crosses the line into endorsing or supporting religion.

Other cases mentioned address different constitutional issues. Employment Division v. Smith deals with free exercise and neutrality toward religious practices in applying general laws; Lau v. Nichols concerns language rights and equal access in public schools; Garcetti v. Ceballos concerns government employee speech. But when it comes to evaluating government aid to religion under the Establishment Clause, Lemon v. Kurtzman provides the established standard.