Sommario : 1. Il paradigma dello Stato secolare e la legislative prayer – 2. Il precedente Marsh v. Chambers – 3. La frammentazione degli orientamenti delle Corti d’Appello – 4. La decisione Town of Greece v. Galloway – 5 . Il coercion test e le sue diverse interpretazioni a opera dei giudici della Corte Suprema – 6. La “ soft ” dissenting opinion del giudice Elena Kagan – 7. Il parametro della “discriminazione intenzionale” introdotto dal giudice Alito – 8. Le opinions dei giudici Kennedy e Kagan: due approcci alla religious accommodation a confronto – 9. La civil religion nell’accezione statunitense – 10. La legislative prayer al crocevia fra Free Speech Clause ed Establishment Clause – 11. La legislative prayer come forma di private speech ? – 12. La continuità con la giurisprudenza in materia di religious displays – 13 . La paventata contrazione del campo di operatività dell’ Establishment Clause – 14. Annotazioni (provvisoriamente) riepilogative. The Roberts Court and the “municipal prayer” Abstract : In the USA, few topics are more divisive than the government’s use of religious expressions and symbols. The Supreme Court has tried to find a balance between the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the inclusion of religious expressions in government activities. In Town of Greece v. Galloway, the Roberts Court upheld a town’s practice of opening board meetings with prayers from invited speakers. The essay critically examines the various opinions in the case, and looks at where this decision suggests the Establishment Clause doctrine is moving award.

The Roberts Court and the “municipal prayer”

ABSTRACT: In the USA, few topics are more divisive than the government’s use of religious expressions and symbols. The Supreme Court has tried to find a balance between the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the inclusion of religious expressions in government activities. In Town of Greece v. Galloway, the Roberts Court upheld a town’s practice of opening board meetings with prayers from invited speakers. The essay critically examines the various opinions in the case, and looks at where this decision suggests the Establishment Clause doctrine is moving award.