Issue…
Let’s be Supreme Court Judges (Justices)- This is a real case that went before the
US Supreme Court back in 1961.
Today you are going to decide what the ruling should be. You will be a Supreme Court judge.
Then we will discuss and see if you made the correct decision.
Freedom of Religion
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?
Post your response. Did the Court side with Torcaso? Why or why not?
If I was the judge I would side with Tarcaso because not everybody believes in God and I think it’s unfair that he can’t have a job because he does not believe in God. Everybody has the right to a job no matter what they believe in as long as they do their job well.
They went with Torcaso because on the constitution you have the freedom of religion.
P.S. you spelled the guys name 2 different ways.
I believe that the supreme court sided with tarcaso because the state of maryland were violating the a freedom(religion) so it would be the right thing even if the state said this was a requarmint to take a place in its government because this is what our country has been going by since the founding fathers.
i dont think its faire that they have to blive in god because some poople dont blive in god and what if they had a family and they need a job
In this issue I agree with Mr. Torcaso because one of the five freedoms is religion. The amendment states you have freedom to believe in whatever religion you want or you don’t have to believe in a religion.
I think it is wrong that you need to belie in god to work in the state goverment because you should be able to have the same rights as everybody else
i think the supreme court sided with torcasso. Because of the first amendment. Because freedom of religon. he has to do just the opposite.
I think that the supreme court sided with Tarcaso because i think that it was fair that people that do not believe in god have the right to have a job.
l think that torcaso won because in the first amendment
it says that you have the freedom of religion.
The Maryland government did not have the right to swear he believed in God. So I think the supreme court agreed with Torcaso because it is in our constitution freedom of religion. In my opinion I think that it would be nice if everyone believed in God.
I think that maryland was wrong tarcaso was right because he had the first amendment right for religion to speak
The court is going to agree with him. Religion shouldn’t matter. A job should depend on what you can do.
They didn’t agree because he didn’t agree in my opinion I think that its not fair because some people believe in god and some people don’t but what really matters is what u can do.
Yes i think they should side tarcaso because if he doesn’t believe in god he shouldn’t get the job. I think if he wants the job he has to believe in god if he doesn’t believe in god he shouldn’t get the job.
I think the supreme court judges sided with Tarcaso because the constitution says that you can believe in any religion you desire and because the Maryland government is not listening to the constitution I think Tarcaso should be allowed to have the job.
The court will side with Tarcaso because religion shouldn’t matter. When you are getting a job what should matter is that you know how to do the job.
I think the supreme court decided with the state of maryland of him saying i believe in god because its respectful and hes basically promising that he will be a good governor official.
i think the supreme court decided to side with Torcaso because it doesn’t matter about your religion because Torcaso could of been the greatest government offical out there but they wouldn’t know that since they denied his job because he didn’t belive in god
I think they sided with Tarcaso because Maryland is completely ignoring the first amendment!
I think they did, because Torcaso is right. It doesn’t matter if you believe in God or not. It’s not important based on what’s related to laws and jobs. This would be the right thing to do. I think even the court will understand that.
I think Tarcaso did not have to believe in god. I say that because in the First Amendment it said that you can believe in god, or you cannot. It’s totally your decision.
So in conclusion. I think Tarcaso does not have to believe in god to be the state government
I agree with Torcaso because of the five freedoms. Freedom of religion gives you the choice to believe in any gods or religion. So Torcaso should get his job.
I would side with Tarcaso because USA is a free country and not everyone believes in god and a lot of people have different religions so they shouldn’t be discluded just because they have a different religion and believe in a different religious figure
I agree with Tarcaso because some people might have a different religion, and I think it is unfair that you don’t get a job because you do not believe in god.
I think that the Supreme court did not make Torcaso believe in god because it violates the freedom of religion. He has the right to believe in whatever he wants to believe in. Also America is the home of the free where people from any religion can believe in what their religion wants to believe in
I think that Mr. Torcaso should have the right to work. I think this because it does not matter what you belive in to work. What part of being a government official has to do with believing in god? when and if they did not let him work in my opinion it would be absurd.
I think Mr. Torcaso is guilty because he broke the law of his job in Maryland which is you have to believe in god and Torcaso did not believe in god.
I agree with Taraso because I think you don’t believe in god.
I think the ruling is unconstitutional because Amendment 1 to the constitution states that you could choose whatever religion you want. The Freedom of Religion states that. Maryland’s law should be overturned because Torcaso has his rights. The Maryland law is a state law. The United States Of America Federal Government overpowers every single of the 50 state Government I think Torcaso would win the court ruling. Maryland’s law is unconstitutional. That’s why I think that Torcaso won the court ruling Torcaso vs. Waitkus
i think that torcaso should be able to have the job. I don’t think that they have to swear to believe in god. so i think that he should have the job.
I think that they let people not beleive in god because diffrent people belive in diffrent religons and they cant force peolpe to belive in the same religon.
I agree with Torcaso I don’t think you have to swear to believe in god to get a job. I think this because some people believe in god but don’t need to swear on it.
I would side with the state of Maryland because it is the law and I wouldn’t want to change that. I could possibly get in a fight with the government of Maryland.
I would side with Torcaso .v Watkins because the 5 freedoms in the first amendment says you can believe in any religion.
No they did not agree with him because ibeside
No they did not agree with him because if you do not you are saying that i do not care and that you can do evry thing you wont.
I think the supreme court decided that the law is the law and we are saying that you have to swear that you believed in god or you wont get the job.
I think the court should agree with Mr. Torcaso because it doesn’t matter if you believe in god or not because it usually doesn’t effect how you work.