Tennessee Passes “In God We Trust” Bill

A Tennessee bill that requires schools to prominently display the motto of “In God We Trust” is currently headed to the governor for his signature.

A Tennessee bill that requires schools in Tennessee to prominently display the motto of “In God We Trust” is currently headed to the governor for his signature. This legislation, which is referred to as the National Motto in the Classroom Act, was passed by 81 of 99 members of the house. Prior to the vote, the politician who proposed the legislation spoke to the House about the phrase’s popularity. During this speech, the politician argued that because the phrase “In God We Trust” appears in the national anthem, currency, and license plates, the phrase has become a cornerstone. While the bill requires schools to display the phrase in a prominent location, schools have some freedom in deciding what constitutes a display. If signed by Tennessee’s Governor Bill Haslam, the law will take effect immediately.

Response to the Bill

Some people in the state have argued that this bill is an endorsement of religion and as a result, is unconstitutional. In response to this argument, the state argues that “In God We Trust” is a generic motto that should not bother the “faithless” or people with different religious beliefs. In making this argument, the state points out that “In God We Trust” was made the official motto of the government by a Congressional act in 1956. Congress changed the motto during the Cold War as a rejection of the Soviet Union’s state atheism.

Applicable Law

Many people have challenged the use of the motto in government buildings as well as on license plates and money, but courts have consistently ruled that the motto does not represent an unconstitutional establishment of religion. In the 1970 case of Aronow v. United States, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the motto is patriotic and ceremonial, which means that it does not constitute a government endorsement of religion. In deciding why this motto is often deemed constitutional, it is important to understand the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from making any law regarding the establishment of religion. The First Amendment, however, does not state that the word “God” is prohibited from appearing on government property or even that there must be absolute separation between church and state.

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

From time to time, various states consider bills such as this one, which frequently result in a conflict being created between conservative Christians and supporters of the division between church and state. Many other states currently require the display of “In God We Trust.” Similar legislation has recently appeared in Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming. In the state of Alabama, there is also currently an effort to display the motto on public property, while in Arizona there is legislation attempting to require “God enriches” (“Ditat Deus”) in classrooms.

This area of law represents just one of the many ongoing debates concerning the relationship between religion and the state. By reading the Universal Life Church’s blog each month, you can remain up to date with these various developments.

(image courtesy of Kim Gorga)