<P> The first amendment to the US Constitution states `` Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof '' The two parts , known as the `` establishment clause '' and the `` free exercise clause '' respectively , form the textual basis for the Supreme Court 's interpretations of the `` separation of church and state '' doctrine . Three central concepts were derived from the 1st Amendment which became America 's doctrine for church - state separation : no coercion in religious matters , no expectation to support a religion against one 's will , and religious liberty encompasses all religions . In sum , citizens are free to embrace or reject a faith , any support for religion - financial or physical - must be voluntary , and all religions are equal in the eyes of the law with no special preference or favoritism . </P>
the wall of seperation between church and state is best found in what clause of the constitution
first amendment to the US Constitution