1. The Establishment Clause is part of the First Amendment and it stops the government from setting up an official religion or favoring one religion over others. It’s all about keeping church and state separate. From the 1971 Supreme Court case Lemon v. Kurtzman, the Lemon Test helps decide if a law breaks this rule. It checks three things: (1) the law must have a non-religious purpose, (2) it shouldn’t help or hurt religion, and (3) it shouldn’t make the government too involved with religion. If a law fails any of these, it might be unconstitutional. I think this test is super important because it keeps things fair and prevents the government from getting too cozy with any religion.

2. Burning the US flag is protected by the First Amendment as symbolic speech. This was decided in the 1989 Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson, where the Court said burning the flag is a form of expression that’s protected. Even though it’s controversial, the decision shows that free speech includes stuff we might not like. Personally, I feel like this ruling is crucial because it reminds us that freedom of expression means allowing all kinds of speech, even if it makes us uncomfortable.

3. “I’m taking the Fifth” When someone says “I’m taking the Fifth,” they’re using their Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Basically, it means they don’t have to answer questions that could get them into legal trouble. This right is part of making sure people are treated fairly in court. In my opinion, it’s a smart move because it protects individuals from being forced to say something that could be used against them later.