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Constitutional Law Keyed to Varat
Van Orden v. Perry
Citation:
545 U.S. 677, 125 S.Ct. 2854, 162 L.Ed.2d 607 (2005).Facts
The 22 acres surrounding the Texas State Capitol contained 17 monuments and 21 historical markers commemorating the people, ideals, and events of Texan identity. The monument at issue was located between the Capitol and Texas Supreme Court building. It consisted of the Ten Commandments as well as two Stars of David, an eagle grasping the American flag, an eye inside a pyramid, the Greek letters Chi and Rho, representing Christ. Plaintiff brought suit 40 years after its erection and six years after encountering it frequently, arguing it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
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Topic Resources
Topic Outline
First Amendment