What is Torcaso v. Watkins?

Answer 1

Torcaso v. Watkins (1961) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of religious tests for public office. The Court ruled that Maryland's requirement for public officeholders to declare a belief in God violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. This decision reinforced the principle of separation of church and state, affirming that the government cannot impose religious beliefs as a condition for holding public office. The case set a significant precedent for religious freedom and the rights of individuals in the political sphere.