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Out of Sync: The Disconnect Between Constitutional Clauses and State Legislation on Religion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2011

Jonathan Fox
Jonathan Fox*
Affiliation:
Bar Ilan University
*
Jonathan Fox, Department of Political Studies, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel, foxjon@mail.biu.ac.il
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Abstract

Abstract. This study examines the influence of constitutional clauses—which either establish religions (EOR) or separation of religion and state (SRAS)—on state religion policy as measured by the Religion and State (RAS) dataset's religious legislation variable for 166 states. The results show that, even when controlling for structural factors which have been shown to influence the level of religious legislation, constitutional clauses have a significant impact. However, this influence is small compared to structural factors and is limited to the presence or absence of EOR and SRAS clauses. The specific wording of these clauses has minimal, if any, impact on legislation. This study also finds that religious legislation is ubiquitous even in states with SRAS clauses in their constitutions.

Résumé. Cette étude examine l'influence exercée par les clauses constitutionnelles – qui régissent l'établissement d'une religion officielle (EOR) ou la séparation de l'Église et de l'État (SRAS) – sur la politique religieuse des États, telle que mesurée par les données de la législation religieuse de 166 États, celles-ci étant répertoriées dans la base de données RAS (l'Église et l'État). Les résultats montrent que même lorsqu'on étudie les facteurs structurels qui ont une incidence reconnue sur le niveau de législation religieuse, les clauses constitutionnelles ont un impact notable. Leur influence s'avère toutefois faible en comparaison de celle des facteurs structurels et elle se limite à la présence ou à l'absence de clauses EOR et SRAS. La formulation précise de ces clauses influe peu ou pas du tout sur la législation. L'étude conclut également que la législation religieuse est omniprésente, même dans les États dont la constitution comporte des clauses de séparation de l'Église et de l'État.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 59 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2011

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