Freedom Restoration Argument

Improved Essays
Overview
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a bill that was signed by Bill Clinton 1993 (Breitbart 2015). There are twenty-one states that currently use this bill: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia (State Religious Freedom 2015). Indiana and Arkansas are the most current of the listed states that have signed the bill. This is an important issue in policy because so many individuals are for it, and so many individuals are against this law. There are lots of different versions of this bill. In Alabama, their version of this law talks about equality and rights of men, people source of power, and religious freedom (Alaware). Arizona’s version of this law talks about how the government may burden a person’s exercises of religion if the action of the burden is in the interest of the government, and is the least limiting means of that government interest (Arizona State Legislature). Arkansas’ version of this bill discusses the same principles as
…show more content…
An individual could argue that it takes away from the first amendment. The first amendment states that a citizen is guaranteed the freedom of religion and that the government cannot restrict an individual’s religious practices (First Amendment). With that in mind, it is possible that an individual could say the Religious Freedom Restoration Act could be taking away from that part of the first amendment. Another argument that an individual could argue is that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act it could discriminate against the LGBT community. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana caused a lot of controversy with the LGBT community because the bill allows business owners to deny giving service to the LGBT community at any given

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    This law prohibits a "person who commits an offense if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex. " The Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas was ruled that states cannot make laws banning homosexual sodomy. These laws are unconstitutional and a violation of the right to…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to the Constitution’s first amendment, each U.S. citizen is entitled to religious freedom. In detail, this right establishes the freedom to worship a higher power in whatever manner is preferred. The Constitution also states that it will not make laws that interfere with the permissible practice of religion. This natural law was meant to balance equality between those of a religion and nonbelievers.…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment provides that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. U.S. Const. amend. I. Exemptions may be altered or repealed except those exempting real or personal property used exclusively for religious, educational or charitable purposes as defined by law and owned by any corporation or association organized exclusively for one or more of such purposes and not operating for profit. N.Y. Const.…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Bill Of Rights Dbq

    • 268 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In this amendment, it states that anyone can practice any religion they want. Freedom of speech is also declared in the 1st Amendment. People are allowed to peacefully assemble,…

    • 268 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Many credited the statute as one of the most influential pieces of legislation that enabled the First Amendment to be included in the Bill of Rights. Quickly becoming one of the most heavily relied upon pieces of legislature, especially during church-state conflict, the “Bill to Establish Religious Freedom” prevented the unjust taxation and persecution of non-Anglicans and open the doors for more dissenter to actively pursue careers without the fear of their rights being negated. In addition to serving as a model for the First Amendment, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom established the separation of church and state, a separation many states adopted soon…

    • 1497 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On December 15, 1791, ten new amendments were ratified by Congress and added to the United States’ Constitution subsequently becoming known as The Bill of Rights. The First Amendment was and still is a remarkable piece of historical work that will forever distinguish the United States from the rest of the world. The First Amendment reads clearly, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …” The right given to Americans in that sentence is a notion that was first introduced in the colonies during the Great Awakenings. Although the effects of evangelicalism and revivalism are abundant and just as significant, diversity and tolerance within religion is the greatest impact seen on the American colonies. Through the actions and words of religious leaders like George Whitefield and Gilbert Tennent, there was a shift in religious thinking, thus determining that not one denomination or sect could possess a stronghold over the public in the future.…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A part of the First Amendment of the constitution states “[c]ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The Establishment Clause intends to prevent any government endorsement or support of religion (Freedom of Religion and the Establishment Clause). Throughout history and different time periods, many contrasting interpretations of this clause have formed. Many court cases have helped develop the meaning the this Clause. The Establishment Clause’s interpretation remains controversial, although numerous tests have helped the Clause itself.…

    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Bill Of Rights Dbq

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This amendment was made so the government could not take away any of your basic rights as and American. The first amendment talks about the right of religion. For example “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” (U.S. Const. Amend. I).…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    First Amendment Benefits

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Pages

    This amendment gives American citizens the option to come together to discuss topics such as religion. Lastly, this amendment gives…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    This was a major win with the LGBT community but the Supreme Court doesn’t always side with them. As seen in the court case, Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), the Supreme Court decided that homosexuals do not a constitutional right to have sexual relations in private. The supreme judges claimed that homosexuals relations are not protected under the “right of privacy” act because they are not marriage and unable to procreate. This was a serious setback for the LGBT community. In 2003 this decision was overturned in the court case Lawrence v.…

    • 1438 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Many bills have been passed or vetoed in referring to Religious Freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. An example could be in 2015 when Gary Herbert, the Governor of Utah, passed a bill that allowed county clerks to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. Rick Snyder, the Governor of Mississippi, passed a bill that faith-based adoption agencies don’t have to give same-sex couples kids. Texas Governor Greg Abbott made “Pastor Protection Act”, a law that let’s clergy refuse to perform and LGBTQ+ rights. An example could be in 2015 when Gary Herbert, the Governor of Utah, passed a bill that allowed county clerks to refuse to perform same-sex marriages.…

    • 214 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Even if laws have been passed for LGBTQ+ and Religious Freedom protection, there are still lots of drama happening around them, and still lots of laws that need to be passed. Even though twenty-one states have passed RFRA, it failed in thirteen other states. The RFRA was also introduced to Congress in 2015 and was defeated by the Senate. The reason some don’t like the law is people think people protecting their Religious Freedom are using the RFRA as a weapon. For instance, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day was accused of removing children from school to harvest Pecans, and they used the RFRA as their backbone.…

    • 109 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In his essay, Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus (69 - 71), Derek Bok examines just how disruptive a confederate flag can be in a college campus as it has symbolic connections to slavery. Bok 's thesis is that such form of an expression can be offensive, however, this is not enough to prohibit such form of communication due to its First Amendment rights. Bok makes an adequate argument because he assesses the offensive nature of this act as well as the harm that is derived from censorship by mainly providing persuasive notions. Although Derek Bok makes a strong case behind his support of the First Amendment rights, the essay nevertheless conveys various weaknesses.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Originally, the legalization of heterosexual marriage was supposed to provide heterosexual people with the same benefits of marriage that homosexual people enjoy. Although there are discrimination laws in place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people (LGBT), an RFRA would further emphasize a homosexual’s possible exemption from discrimination laws. If a person is able to avoid the equal treatment of LGBT people, then it defeats the purpose of having the discrimination laws in the beginning because people are able to ignore them. After all, LGBT people have equal rights as any other person, there should not be a need for an RFRA because it overwrites people’s equality and terminates the legalization of heterosexual marriage. Originally, by legalizing LGBT marriage, the nation was supposed to accept people for who they are and to allow them to not have to worry about discrimination, yet with RFRAs, LGBT people will lose those rights and the fear of discrimination will become more common.…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The first amendment to our constitution guarantees that our laws are not based on any religions doctrine. Any attempts to ban homosexuality equal rights based upon the concept of religious sins are completely unconstitutional. The 14th amendment in our constitution basically states That if you are born in the United Sates you are a citizen of the United states and the state you were born in. A state can not make laws that shorten your privileges or deprives you of your life, liberty, or property, without due process of law: nor deny a person within it’s power equal protection of the laws. If you are born in the United States you are a citizen.…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays