WEST SIDE COMMUNITY

SCHOOLS V. MERGENS

By: Alex Kemp and Evan WetmorePeriod 8, December 12, 2014

1990

"Every Student, Every School." Every Student Every School. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014.<http://everyschool.com.s99643.gridserver.com/equal-access-act>

Summary

Group of students made a Christian Club School did not allow the club due to the

fact that there were no teachers in charge of it

The students sued

Issues Under Debate

Religious freedom in schools Ability to establish clubs in schools Could students maintain clubs in schools Constitutionality of the Equal Access Act

Amendments Under Discussion

The Equal Access Act was under debate by the Supreme Court

The Establishment Clause

Majority Opinion

In an 8-1 decision the Supreme Court stated that the club could hold their meetings

The club’s sponsor could not be paid The Equal Access Act was not

discriminatory The Supreme Court also held that the

Equal Access Act was constitutional

Minority Opinion

The students should not be allowed to make their Christian Club

The Equal Access Act was discriminatory towards people who were not of Christian faith

Who won the Case?

Mergens won the case The Equal Access Act did not violate the

Establishment Clause The Equal Access Act was not

discriminatory Mergens and the rest of the club would

be allowed to hold their meetings

Chief Justice of the Case

William Rehnquist was the Chief Justice during the case

Fourth-longest-serving Chief Justice October 1, 1924-September 3, 2005 In 1999, Rehnquist became the second

Chief Justice to Presidential Impeachment case against Bill Clinton

Impact on Constitutional Law

Judgment was affirmed Equal Access Act was constitutional This allowed students to make and hold

religious club meetings

Works Cited

"Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens By and Through Mergens." Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens By and Through Mergens. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2014.

"Every Student, Every School." Every Student Every School. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014.

"Supreme Court Cases." Pearson Prentice Hall:. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"William Rehnquist." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Dec. 2014.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?