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Flashcards: Must Be True in Law Passages
Adapted from the Opinion of the Court by Chief Justice Morrison Waite in the United States Supreme Court Case Reynolds v. U.S. 98 U.S. 145 (1878)
The word "religion" is not defined in the Constitution. We must go elsewhere, therefore, to ascertain its meaning, and nowhere more appropriately, we think, than to the history of the times in the midst of which the provision was adopted. The precise point of the inquiry is what is the religious freedom which has been guaranteed.
Before the adoption of the Constitution, attempts were made in some of the colonies and states to legislate not only in respect to the establishment of religion, but in respect to its doctrines and precepts as well. The people were taxed, against their will, for the support of religion, and sometimes for the support of particular sects to whose tenets they could not and did not subscribe. Punishments were prescribed for a failure to attend upon public worship, and sometimes for entertaining [98 U.S. 145, 163] heretical opinions. The controversy upon this general subject was animated in many of the states, but seemed at last to culminate in Virginia. In 1784, the House of Delegates of that State having under consideration “a bill establishing provision for teachers of the Christian religion” postponed it until the next session, and directed that the bill should be published and distributed, and that the people be requested “to signify their opinion respecting the adoption of such a bill at the next session of assembly.”
This brought out a determined opposition. Amongst others, Mr. Madison prepared a "Memorial and Remonstrance," which was widely circulated and signed, and in which he demonstrated "that religion, or the duty we owe the Creator," was not within the cognizance of civil government. [Semple's Virginia Baptists, Appendix.] At the next session the proposed bill was not only defeated, but another, "for establishing religious freedom," drafted by Mr. Jefferson, was passed. [1 Jeff. Works, 45; 2 Howison, Hist. of Va. 298.] In the preamble of this act (12 Hening's Stat. 84) religious freedom is defined; and after a recital "that to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion, and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency, is a dangerous fallacy which at once destroys all religious liberty," it is declared "that it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order." In these two sentences is found the true distinction between what properly belongs to the church and what to the state.
Based on the information provided in the passage, which of the following statements must be true?
Fines for heretical religious beliefs were a completely uncontroversial matter in the late eighteenth century.
The politicians of the late eighteenth century did not particularly excel at compromise.
The role of religion in government was a largely settled matter by the late eighteenth century.
Religion's role in government was not a widely debated topic during the eighteenth century.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were well-respected figures in late-eighteenth-century America.
All LSAT Reading Resources
LSAT scores form the most important part of law school applications, and this weight can make preparing to face the exam a nerve-wracking experience. Many students choose to focus their review on the Logical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning sections of the exam, as these sections most directly test analytical abilities in ways that may not have been covered directly in previous coursework. The test’s logic games are typically understood by applying logic to careful diagramming, whereas one’s ability to understand the nuts and bolts of a few sentences of logical argumentation requires similar skill with logical deductions. In the midst of the methodical logic that is at the heart of these sections, the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT may seem like a less-imposing outlier. Previous success on the reading sections of other standardized exams may give test-takers false confidence that leaves them unprepared on test day and with a lower score than they otherwise could have achieved through more balanced preparation. The LSAT’s Reading Comprehension section determines a quarter of your overall score, so focusing your studies exclusively on other sections can be a recipe for disaster. While sharpening your logical acumen, you should not neglect brushing up on your ability to work through longer prose passages while picking up on all of their subtle details. Whether you need LSAT tutoring in Atlanta, LSAT tutoring in Houston, or LSAT tutoring in San Francisco, working one-on-one with an expert may be just the boost your studies need.
What makes the LSAT’s Reading Comprehension section so demanding? For one, the length and number of passages it includes present most test-takers with a challenge. LSAT Reading Comprehension passages are typically around five hundred words long, and five passages appear on each test, two of which are shorter and analyzed together. The section only lasts for thirty-five minutes, however, presenting readers with a need to balance care with speed. In addition, LSAT Reading Comprehension passages are drawn from a wide range of topics in the humanities, physical sciences, natural sciences, and law. Passages are typically written in a dense style about complex topics, arranging more obstacles between test-takers and correct answers. Finally, LSAT Reading Comprehension questions are themselves quite idiosyncratic. Whereas most reading tests include questions that are directly answered in the passage, the LSAT’s Reading Comprehension section asks you to not only locate relevant information, but make complex and subtle deductions based on it. You may be asked to surmise the effect new evidence has on an author’s argument, or consider what must or might be true based on what has been stated. In addition, each LSAT Reading Comprehension section includes the analysis of a pair of passages, setting the stage for questions that ask you to compare and contrast aspects of each argument on this part of the test. Varsity Tutors also offers resources like free LSAT Reading Diagnostic Tests to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an LSAT Reading tutor.
How can one best prepare for all of these challenges? Practice, practice, practice. Only by working through a good deal of practice material of appropriate difficulty can you get a clear picture of your own abilities and calibrate your reading speed so that you can get through all of the passages without missing crucial details. Varsity Tutors’ free LSAT Reading Comprehension Flashcards can help you do just this by helping you get a better idea of your own particular skill set. Our LSAT Reading Comprehension Flashcards are each drawn from the various types of passages and questions used on the LSAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation of the reasoning used to arrive at the correct answer, and data about how long you took to answer each question is also included in the feedback you receive. Registering on our Learning Tools website allows you to save your results and track your progress. In addition to the LSAT Reading Flashcards and LSAT Reading tutoring, you may also want to consider taking some of our free LSAT Reading Practice Tests. By dedicating time to preparing yourself for the Reading Comprehension section as well as the other sections of the LSAT, you practice all of the skills you will need and be ready for whatever challenges your particular exam presents.
