Tarcaso vs. Watkins
2. Supreme Court Case
Issue…
Let’s be Supreme Court Judges (Justices)- This is a real case that went before the
US Supreme Court. Today you are going to decide what the ruling should be. Read the facts from the case.
Then based on what we learned about the first amendment- make a decision.
Then we will find out if you made the correct decision.
Freedom of Religion 1st Amendment
Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488 (1961)
The state of Maryland had a law saying that everyone who wanted a
job in the state government had to swear that he or she believed in God.
A man named Torcaso applied for a job as a government official.
He was denied the job because he would not say that he believed in God.
Mr. Torcaso said that the Maryland law was unconstitutional because it limited his
freedom of religion.
He said that freedom of religion meant the freedom to believe in God or
not to believe in God, as a person wishes.
What do you think the Supreme Court decided? Why? List your reasons and post on the blog.
I think the court sided with torcaso because everyone should have their freedom and the freedom of religon. the only way they might not have sided with them is the fact that this was in 1961 and they might not have had freedom of religon
I think they kept the law the same the law because in the first amendment it says on freedom of religion under cant do it says no state law but you can teach about religion in schools.
I think the supreme court decided to give him the job because some people do not believe in God and it should not limit peoples freedom.
If I was the judge I would say it was not fair because everyone can do anything.
I think the supreme court would have handled this by letting Tarcaso be the government official because is the religion people don’t have to believe God.
I agree with Mr. Torcaso because some people don’t believe in God and some do and that’s why they should have limited rights
I do agree with with Torcaso because I do not think it would make a big difference if you believed in God and if you didn’t. As well as why would they need them to believe in god only? So I think that Tocaso is correct.
I think maryland is wrong because everyone should have the freedom of religion and be able to choose witch one they believe and not have to be forced to a riligion that they don’t believe in.
The Supreme Court should have decided to let him be in the Supreme Court because you should be allowed to believe in any religion you want to.
If I was a supreme court judge I would decide that this state law in maryland is unfair. I think this because it defies the freedom of religion. A person should be able to choose what religion they are and if they are even religious at all.
I think the supreme court would have handled this by letting Tacaso be the government official because it says in the freedom of religion you don’t have to believen God.
I think that the Supreme Court should have voted for Torcaso because the first amendment (the freedom of religion) states that you have the right to believe in any religion, and practice it any time of the day. Torcaso “had to” say that he believed in God to get into the job of a government official, but he said no, so he practiced the freedom of religion by defending his rights. Therefore I vote for Torcaso.
sorry that I did it two times
I think Tarcaso got the job because there was no reason for not to get the job just because maybe his religion didn’t believe in God.
i think tarcaso got the job because he protested.
I don’t think tarcaso should get the job because he dosent believe in god
i think the judges said that Maryland had to get rid of the law because they broke the first amendment.
he should have the job
He should not rock because he said that freedom of religion meant the freedom to believe in god or not a believe in god as a person wishes.
I think No he should not get the job because he did not believe in God.
I think he should get the job because if Mr. Torcaso doesn’t believe in God that’s okay because everyone should have the right to legally believe in God or not. I don’t think that believing in God is necassary for a job. Everyone can believe what they want to believe.
I think the supreme court said he should not get the job because he does not believe got and it is agensed the law
he should have the job beacuse you can beleave in any religon you want to bealeave you shouldnt be told you cant work at the job beacuse of not beleaveing i god
I think that the supreme court decided that torcaso should not have the job even though I think he should because if it is a law then the people in the court got the job by saying that they believed in god
I think that the supreme court decided to let Tarcaso have the job because under the first amendment it says that there can not be a state law and so it is kind of like a state law if in order to get the job you have to swear that you believe in God and if you do not you can not get the job. Also you cannot force people to go behind a certain religion and not be able to use his family roots that belong to him and give him the right to be able to believe what he wants to believe and know one can make him change his mind on his personal beliefs.
you can be any Religion that you want. you should not have to believed in god to get job
I think the supreme court decided to not give him the job because the law had already been made. Also he would not say that he believed in God. Phil Montemarano
I think the Supreme Court decided that he should get the job because in the First Amendment states there is no state religion wirch in part of the freedom of Religion
I think that he should be able to get a job because just because he doesn’t believe in god he still gets to get a job because it is not fair if you get a job just because you don’t believe in something also he won’t do anything.
I think the Supreme Court decided to not give the man the job because the man didn’t say he believed in God
I think the supreme court decided that Torcaso would get the job because he was right that the freedom of religion says that it’s okay to believe or not to believe in God, and that they where making the wrong decision on not letting him get the job because they are going against their own words and plus they said that there cant be a state religion so if all the people who worked for the government would be christian they would technically be going against they’re own words
He should be able to get the job because it does not matter if you believe in God or not every one should be treated equally. Everyone is a person
he sud be ab to gat the jub
why I think that the supreme court decided on it because they don’t want to have problems with religion.
toreso becase he sed he blevd in god and he had a feredo of relogon
I think he shoud the Supreme Court said he should get a job because he the 1st Amendment you can or cant beleve in god