The Establishment Clause test often used to assess government action requires, among other things, avoiding excessive entanglement with religion. Under this test, which factor is specifically concerned with entanglement?

The Establishment Clause test often used to assess government action requires, among other things, avoiding excessive entanglement with religion. Under this test, which factor is specifically concerned with entanglement?

• A. Secular purpose
• B. No excessive entanglement
• C. Primary effect
• D. Neutrality

Answer: (B)

Entanglement is the part of the Establishment Clause test that looks at how closely the government would be involved with religious institutions. The specific factor that targets this concern asks whether government action would create excessive ties between the state and religion—through funding, oversight, or other ongoing involvement. That is why the option describing no excessive entanglement is the best answer: it directly measures whether the government action would become too intertwined with religion. The other elements address different aspects—secular purpose focuses on the action’s nonreligious goal, primary effect on whether religion is advanced or inhibited, and neutrality concerns whether the government treats religion without favoritism—but they do not specifically assess entanglement.

Entanglement is the part of the Establishment Clause test that looks at how closely the government would be involved with religious institutions. The specific factor that targets this concern asks whether government action would create excessive ties between the state and religion—through funding, oversight, or other ongoing involvement. That is why the option describing no excessive entanglement is the best answer: it directly measures whether the government action would become too intertwined with religion. The other elements address different aspects—secular purpose focuses on the action’s nonreligious goal, primary effect on whether religion is advanced or inhibited, and neutrality concerns whether the government treats religion without favoritism—but they do not specifically assess entanglement.