Across this nation, from local governments, to state, and federal legislatures and through various court rulings on religious issues, one can clearly recognize the persistent and concerted efforts to redefine and weaken the protections of the First Amendment. The First Amendment is not an afterthought in the U.S. Constitution; its historical significance should not be underestimated or forgotten. Three years after the Constitution came into effect, the framers added ten amendments to ensure the protection of individual rights for all citizens. The First Amendment includes arguably the most important constitutional principles necessary to maintaining our democratic form of government.