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[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.

[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.

Between independence in 1776 and the ratification of the [[Constitution]] in 1788, the United States had two governing documents:  the [[Articles of Confederation]] and the [[Declaration of Independence]] itself.

Between the [[Declaration of Independence]] in 1776 and the ratification of the [[Constitution]] in 1788, the United States was governed according to the [[Articles of Confederation]].

[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

Since 1788,  the United States has had only one official governing document:  the [[U.S. Constitution]].  

Since 1788,  the United States has had only one official governing document:  the [[U.S. Constitution]]. All previous documents were superceded by the adoption of the US Constitution.

All previous documents are mere historical reference material.

Although officially a [[Republic]], since the Presidency of [[John Quincy Adams]],  the United States has been governed by two or more[[political parties]] under the rules of a "Representative [[Democracy]]."  Presently, the two major political parties are the [[Democratic Party]], and the Republican Party.  The younger of the two parties, the [[Republican Party]], was created in 1854.

Although officially a [[Republic]],  since the Presidency of [[John Quincy Adams]],  the United States has been governed by two [[political parties]] under the rules of a "Representative [[Democracy]]."  Those two major political parties are the [[Democrat Party]], and the Republican Party.  The younger of the two parties, the [[Republican Party]], was created in 1854.

== The Role of Religion in Government ==

In American political life, the relationship between God and government is a prime characteristic differentiating the various political parties.

A contentious issue in modern politics is the role of religion in public life and particularly government entanglement in religious affairs.  Some groups that self identify as Republican, argue that the US was founded on Christian principles and that the modern US Government should be more lenient with regards to entanglement of Christianity with politics.  Others that self identify as Democrat or Libertarian argue that the Constitution is a secular document which prohibits the entanglement of religion and politics in any way.  Though these divisions are on general level and a particular stance on this issue is not a prerequisite to being a member of either party.  

    

    

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of God when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted at the request of [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were more Unitarianism / Christian.

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a God when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted at the request of [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were [[Deism|Deistic]].

It is established fact that most early, non-Native Americans came there for Religious Freedom.  The [[Founding Fathers]] called themselves Christians, and acted as though the United States was founded upon the principles and ideals of Christianity.

Most early Americans emigrated to avoid religious persecution in their home countries.  The American [[Founding Fathers]] adhered to various sects of Christianity ranging from Deism to Protestantism, and recognized that Judeo-Christian tradition in addition to other legal traditions should inform the Constitution.

Despite their own beliefs however, the [[Founding Fathers]] specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] a statement that the government cannot interfere in the conduct of religious groups, and grants "Freedom of Religion" for all faiths. That statement is often referred to as the "Free Exercise Clause."

Despite their own beliefs however, the [[Founding Fathers]] specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  The first clause is referred to as the Establishment Clause, and the second the Free Exercise Clause.

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the United States.   

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the United States.   

The various differences and contradictions between the founding documents such as the "[[Declaration of Independence]]", the "[[U.S. Constitution]]", the "[[Federalist Papers]]", and the many personal papers of the [[Founding Fathers]] has not helped to resolve the issue.

The [[Declaration of Independence]], [[U.S. Constitution]], the [[Federalist Papers]], and the many personal papers of the [[Founding Fathers]] have not helped to resolve the issue as there are different and often contradicting statements regarding the proper influence of religion on government as it is difficult to interpret the importance and precedence of personal beliefs, legal intent, and actual verbiage in the documents.

This is important to understand, as in recent decades,  the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has re-interpreted this clause to represent an actual, "physical separation" of Religion from Government.  This "separation of Church and State" interpretation has become a continuing source of conflict in United States' society.  

In recent decades,  the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has used the [[Lemon Test]] as a means for determining whether or not a particular controversy causes excessive entaglement between government and religion, though in some cases has allowed religious icons (such as the Ten Commandments display in Texas <ref> http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-1500 </ref>).  The first amendment is often paraphrased as "separation of Church and State"; a phrase originating in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association which assured them that their rights (nor anyone's rights) to free exercise of their religion would not be curtailed.

In the United States today, what political party one belongs to is often determined by one's personal view of the relationship between "God and government",  or "freedom and government." To these groups of people, all other social issues, whether they be abortion, euthanasia, freedom of speech, cloning, etc. are all subserviant in one way or another to an individuals' view of "God and government," and what "freedoms" will be impacted thereof.

In America today, an individual's party affiliation is at times determined by their personal view of the relationship between religion and government.  Many other social issues, such as Abortion, Euthanasia, Freedom of Speech, and Cloning are based on an individual's religious beliefs.

The [[Republican Party]] does not believe in a "physical separation" between Church and State.  The [[Democrat Party]] firmly believes in that "physical separation."

Though neither party has taken an official stance on the interpretation of the first amendment, the [[Republican Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe that religion should play a larger role in government, and the [[Democrat Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe the government should remain secular.

 

It is the pre-imminent importance of this issue in American Life and Culture that causes this discussion to have so prominent a place on the main page of this encyclopedia's "United States of America" entry.

==History and geography==

==History and geography==