Christian Amendment - More Recent Attempts

More Recent Attempts

With the growing backlash in American society against communism in the 1940s and 1950s, new efforts were made to introduce Christianity into the Constitution, although these efforts were now in the form of standard constitutional amendments. Vermont Senator Ralph Flanders proposed the following in 1954.

Section 1: This nation devoutly recognizes the authority and law of Jesus Christ, Savior and Ruler of nations, through whom are bestowed the blessings of Almighty God.

Section 2: This amendment shall not be interpreted so as to result in the establishment of any particular ecclesiastical organization, or in the abridgment of the rights of religious freedom, or freedom of speech and press, or of peaceful assemblage.

Section 3: Congress shall have power, in such cases as it may deem proper, to provide a suitable oath or affirmation for citizens whose religious scruples prevent them from giving unqualified allegiance to the Constitution as herein amended.

None of the proposals came to a Congressional vote.

There have also been calls for similar amendments in the wake of the 1962 Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale, which ruled government-sponsored and dictated prayer in schools unconstitutional, and during the impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998.