Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) AP Gov Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 📜 Purpose: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 aims to protect individuals' and organizations' ability to practice their religion freely.
• ⚖️ Standard: It prevents the federal government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless the government demonstrates the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
• 🏛️ Application: Initially, RFRA applied to both the federal government and state governments. However, the Supreme Court case *City of Boerne v. Flores* (1997) limited RFRA's application to the federal government.
• 🛡️ Exemptions: RFRA has been used in cases involving religious objections to certain laws, such as the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate.
• 🌍 State RFRAs: Many states have enacted their own state-level RFRAs, which apply similar protections against state government actions.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)?
   1. A. To establish a national religion.
   2. B. To protect individuals' and organizations' ability to practice their religion freely.
   3. C. To limit the free exercise of religion.
   4. D. To promote secularism in government.
2. According to RFRA, under what condition can the federal government substantially burden a person's exercise of religion?
   1. A. Under no circumstances.
   2. B. If the burden results from a rule of general applicability.
   3. C. If the government demonstrates the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
   4. D. If the burden is minimal.
3. In *City of Boerne v. Flores* (1997), what was the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the application of RFRA?
   1. A. RFRA applies to both the federal and state governments.
   2. B. RFRA applies only to state governments.
   3. C. RFRA applies only to the federal government.
   4. D. RFRA was ruled unconstitutional.
4. RFRA has been used in cases involving religious objections to which aspect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
   1. A. The individual mandate.
   2. B. The employer mandate.
   3. C. The contraception mandate.
   4. D. The Medicare expansion.
5. What are state-level RFRAs?
   1. A. Federal laws that apply to states.
   2. B. State laws that mirror the protections of the federal RFRA.
   3. C. Laws that prohibit the free exercise of religion.
   4. D. Laws that have been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
6. Which clause of the First Amendment is most closely related to the principles underlying RFRA?
   1. A. The Establishment Clause.
   2. B. The Free Exercise Clause.
   3. C. The Speech Clause.
   4. D. The Press Clause.
7. Suppose a federal law requires all businesses to be open on Sundays. A business owner whose religion prohibits working on Sundays claims RFRA protection. What must the government demonstrate to enforce the law against the owner?
   1. A. That the law is popular among the public.
   2. B. That the law is the easiest way to achieve its goal.
   3. C. That the law furthers a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.
   4. D. That the law has been in effect for a long time.