What does the First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibit?

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment is a critical part of the American legal framework, specifically addressing the relationship between government and religion. This clause explicitly prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or showing preferential treatment to one religion over another. This means that the government must maintain a stance of neutrality in matters of religion, allowing individuals the freedom to practice their beliefs without government interference or favoritism.

This principle is fundamental to the concept of religious liberty in the United States, ensuring that citizens can worship freely and that no single belief system is advanced or endorsed by government entities. This foundational aspect serves to protect diverse religious practices and philosophies, supporting the idea that religion is a personal matter that should not be influenced or determined by the state.

The other choices do not pertain to the Establishment Clause. For example, regulating commerce, collecting taxes, and controlling the press fall under different aspects of government powers and individual rights, which are addressed in other amendments or sections of the Constitution.