Based on the precedent set in
Lemon v. Kurtzman, the Lemon Test is a test to determine if a law is
unconstitutional due to
separation of church and state.
For a law to pass the test it must satisfy all of the following:
- It must have a secular purpose.
- It must have a primary effect that neither inhibits or advances a certain religion.
- It must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion."
The third condition is the main argument against providing federal funding for faith-based social services.