Collapse to view only § 2000bb. Congressional findings and declaration of purposes
- § 2000bb. Congressional findings and declaration of purposes
- § 2000bb-1. Free exercise of religion protected
- § 2000bb-2. Definitions
- § 2000bb-3. Applicability
- § 2000bb-4. Establishment clause unaffected
§ 2000bb. Congressional findings and declaration of purposes
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1) the framers of the Constitution, recognizing free exercise of religion as an unalienable right, secured its protection in the First Amendment to the Constitution;
(2) laws “neutral” toward religion may burden religious exercise as surely as laws intended to interfere with religious exercise;
(3) governments should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification;
(4) in Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990) the Supreme Court virtually eliminated the requirement that the government justify burdens on religious exercise imposed by laws neutral toward religion; and
(5) the compelling interest test as set forth in prior Federal court rulings is a workable test for striking sensible balances between religious liberty and competing prior governmental interests.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this chapter are—
(1) to restore the compelling interest test as set forth in Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398 (1963) and Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972) and to guarantee its application in all cases where free exercise of religion is substantially burdened; and
(2) to provide a claim or defense to persons whose religious exercise is substantially burdened by government.
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 2, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488.)
§ 2000bb–1. Free exercise of religion protected
(a) In general
(b) Exception
Government may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person—
(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(c) Judicial relief
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 3, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488.)
§ 2000bb–2. Definitions
As used in this chapter—
(1) the term “government” includes a branch, department, agency, instrumentality, and official (or other person acting under color of law) of the United States, or of a covered entity;
(2) the term “covered entity” means the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each territory and possession of the United States;
(3) the term “demonstrates” means meets the burdens of going forward with the evidence and of persuasion; and
(4) the term “exercise of religion” means religious exercise, as defined in section 2000cc–5 of this title.
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 5, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1489; Pub. L. 106–274, § 7(a), Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 806.)
§ 2000bb–3. Applicability
(a) In general
(b) Rule of construction
(c) Religious belief unaffected
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 6, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1489; Pub. L. 106–274, § 7(b), Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 806.)
§ 2000bb–4. Establishment clause unaffected
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect, interpret, or in any way address that portion of the First Amendment prohibiting laws respecting the establishment of religion (referred to in this section as the “Establishment Clause”). Granting government funding, benefits, or exemptions, to the extent permissible under the Establishment Clause, shall not constitute a violation of this chapter. As used in this section, the term “granting”, used with respect to government funding, benefits, or exemptions, does not include the denial of government funding, benefits, or exemptions.
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 7, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1489.)