Reynolds v. United States
Definition
A Supreme Court case in 1879 that ruled against the practice of polygamy, stating that religious duty was not a suitable defense to a criminal indictment.
Analogy
Think of it like a soccer game where you're trying to bend the rules by saying your coach told you it's okay to use your hands because it's part of your team's strategy. The referee (in this case, the Supreme Court) says no - even if your coach said so, you can't break the established rules of the game.
Related terms
First Amendment: The amendment in the U.S. Constitution that guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and right to petition.
Free Exercise Clause: This is a part of the First Amendment that protects citizens' right to practice their religion as they please.
Polygamy: The practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time.
"Reynolds v. United States" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (1)
- What was the issue in Reynolds v. United States?
Resources
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