School Prayer: The Court, the Congress, and the First Amendment.

When Congress adopted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1789, it left open many questions that would arise concerning church-state relations. It became clear early in the history of the country that the Supreme Court would have a great impact on how the First Amendment would be upheld and interpreted. This book examines how Congress has interacted with the executive and judiciary branches over the past 40 years in its treatment of school prayer and the religion clause of the First Amendment. The early history of the church-state relationship is examined as well. There are 12 chapters: (1) "The Architect of the Religion Clauses: James Madison"; (2) Constitutional Ratification and a Bill of Rights: The Virginia Experience"; (3) "The Nineteenth Century"; (4) Presidential Leadership: Divine Mandate?"; (5) "From Cantwell to Everson: 1940 to 1947"; (6) "From Everson to JFK: 1947 to 1960"; (7) "Engel, Schempp, and Aftermath: 1962-63"; (8) "House and Senate Hearings, 1964-66"; (9) "Senate Hearings, 1966"; (10) "House Debate, 1971"; (11) "The Reagan/Bush Years: Republican Senate, Renewed Struggle"; and (12) "The Sound of Silence." Endnotes are included at the end of each chapter. (Contains 25 references.) (JPT)