1. Describe how you understand the “Establishment Clause” and the related “Lemon Test”.

    The Establishment Clause is part of the First Amendment, and to me, it basically means the government can’t create or support a religion. It’s about keeping a clear line between religion and the state so that everyone, regardless of their beliefs, is treated fairly. To help courts figure out if a law crosses that line, they use something called the Lemon Test (from Lemon v. Kurtzman). It has three parts: the law has to have a non-religious purpose, it can’t promote or hurt religion, and it shouldn’t create too much interaction between the government and religious groups. If a law fails any of those, it’s likely unconstitutional. It’s basically a filter to prevent religious favoritism by the government.
  2. Is burning the US flag protected by the First Amendment? Explain by referring to the relevant court case discussed in the reading.

    Yes, it is, although it’s definitely controversial. The Supreme Court made that clear in Texas v. Johnson (1989). In that case, a guy named Gregory Johnson burned an American flag during a protest and got arrested under a Texas law. But the Court said his actions were protected under the First Amendment because they were a form of symbolic speech as he was expressing a political opinion, even if it offended people. The takeaway is that free speech doesn’t only protect speech people agree with, it also protects the kind that makes people uncomfortable or angry. So yeah, flag burning, as a political statement, is legally protected.
  3. What does it mean when someone says “I’m taking the Fifth”?

    When someone says “I’m taking the Fifth,” they’re using their Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. It means they don’t have to answer a question if doing so could get them in legal trouble. You hear it a lot in legal dramas or during congressional hearings, but it’s a real legal protection. It’s meant to prevent people from being forced to testify against themselves in criminal cases. So if someone says that, they’re basically saying, “I’m not going to answer that because it might be used against me.”

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