On Sept. 24, the House of Representatives passed a bill that protects the phrase “under God” as it appears in the Pledge of Allegiance from being ruled unconstitutional.
According to AP, the legislation, promoted by GOP conservatives, would prevent federal courts, including the Supreme Court, from hearing cases challenging the words under God, a part of the pledge for the past 50 years.
Supporters insisted Congress has always had authority to limit federal court jurisdiction, and the legislation is needed to protect an affirmation of religion that is part of the national heritage.
Congress added the phrase "under God" to the pledge in 1954 and President Eisenhower signed a law amending the pledge to include the phrase.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ruling by a federal appeals court in California that reciting "under God" in the pledge amounted to a violation of church-state separation.
