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Constitutional Law Keyed to Choper
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society v. Stratton
Citation:
536 U.S. 150 (2002)Facts
Petitioner Watchtower Bible and Tract Society coordinates the preaching activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the United States, while petitioner Wellsville Congregation supervises approximately 59 members in an area including the Village of Stratton. Jehovah’s Witnesses engage in door-to-door ministry as a religious practice, offering literature without cost and accepting donations. The Village of Stratton, a small Ohio community of 278 residents, enacted Ordinance No. 1998-5, which required anyone going door-to-door to promote a cause to first register with the mayor’s office, complete a detailed form, and obtain a permit. The ordinance also allowed residents to file a “No Solicitation Registration Form” to prohibit all canvassers from entering their property. Petitioners did not apply for a permit, arguing that their authority to preach came from Scripture, not municipal permission. They challenged the ordinance as an unconstitutional restriction on their First Amendment rights.
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