Bill > H494

This bill, the Rowan County Defense of Religion Act of 2013, asserts that the U.S. Constitution does not prevent states or their local governments, such as Rowan County, from establishing or favoring a religion. It argues that the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states, means that states, not federal courts, have the authority to interpret and apply the Constitution regarding religious matters. Therefore, the North Carolina General Assembly, by passing this resolution, declares that it will not recognize federal court decisions that restrict North Carolina, its public schools, or its political subdivisions from making laws about establishing religion, effectively challenging federal judicial authority on this issue.