Number: 98-387 Title: THE LAW OF CHURCH AND STATE: THE PROPOSED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMENDMENT, H.J.RES. 78 Authors: David M. Ackerman, American Law Division Abstract: On March 4, 1998, the House Judiciary Committee voted to report H.J.Res. 78, the "Religious Freedom Amendment," to the House. The proposal is the latest in a long chain of constitutional amendments that have been introduced since the Supreme Court's school prayer decisions of Engel v. Vitale and Abington School District v. Schempp. This report summarizes legislative developments on the proposal and briefly analyzes its likely legal effect if added to the Constitution. Pages: 6 Date: Updated April 20, 1998