What is the "Lemon Test" used for?

The "Lemon Test" is a legal standard established by the Supreme Court in the case of Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) to determine if a law or government action violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.”

The test comprises three prongs:

1. The government's action must have a secular legislative purpose.

2. The primary effect of the action must neither advance nor inhibit religion.

3. The action must not result in excessive government entanglement with religion.

If any of these criteria are not met, then the law or action may be deemed unconstitutional. This framework is essential for ensuring a separation between church and state, thereby protecting religious freedom while also maintaining the impartiality of government in matters of religion.

In this context, the other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of the Lemon Test. For instance, examining search warrants, state taxation on churches, or measuring public support for religious laws falls outside the specific evaluation of the Establishment Clause and its implications for government-religious interactions.