According to the Lemon test, what is assessed to determine if a statute violates the establishment clause?

The Lemon test is a judicial benchmark established by the Supreme Court to evaluate whether a law or government action violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another. The test involves assessing three specific criteria.

First, the purpose of the statute must be secular; it should not have the primary aim of promoting or inhibiting religion. Second, the effect of the statute must neither advance nor inhibit religion, meaning that it should not create an environment that favors any religious belief over others. Third, there should be no excessive entanglement between government and religion, suggesting the need for a clear separation in operations and affiliations.

This framework has been used in various Supreme Court cases to determine the constitutionality of laws and government actions concerning religious issues. By focusing on these three criteria—purpose, effect, and entanglement—the Lemon test serves to maintain the intended wall of separation between church and state in American democracy, ensuring that government does not overreach into the realm of personal belief systems.