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separation of church and state
/ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən əv tʃɜːrtʃ ænd steɪt/
principle of government neutrality toward religion
The U.S. Constitution upholds the separation of church and state.
This means the government should not favor any religion or interfere with religious practices.
Law
formal
The principle that government institutions and religious institutions should be kept separate to prevent government influence over religion and vice versa.
The Supreme Court ruled that the separation of church and state prohibits prayer in public schools.
This decision reinforced the idea that government-funded institutions should remain neutral on religious matters.
This concept is particularly emphasized in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of a state religion and protects the free exercise of religion.
Collocations
uphold the separation of church and stateto support the principle of government neutrality toward religionviolate the separation of church and stateto act in a way that blurs the line between government and religion
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Understanding the Principle
The separation of church and state ensures that the government does not impose religious beliefs on citizens and that religious institutions do not influence government policies.
Gold Rule
Legal Context
In U.S. law, this principle is derived from the First Amendment, which prohibits the establishment of a state religion and protects the free exercise of religion.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from a letter by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, where he used the metaphor of a 'wall of separation' to describe the relationship between church and state.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in discussions about religious freedom, government policies, and constitutional law in the United States.
Word Breakdown
separation
the act of keeping things distinct
rootchurch
a religious institution or community
rootstate
the government or political entity
rootEnglish Dictionary