Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)
Learning Objectives
- Describe the rights protected by the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause
- Identify the main arguments in the case
- Describe the rationale behind the Supreme Court’s decision
- Discuss how the government’s jobs of protecting personal freedoms and promoting economic interests may conflict
Overview
This mini-lesson examines the Supreme Court case that pitted the interests of government economic projects against the religious rights of American Indians. Students learn about the religious protections of the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. They also analyze a fictional scenario and play the role of president in deciding whose interests should have priority.