Legal Definitions - evolution statute

An evolution statute is a law that prohibits the teaching of the theory of evolution in schools. These laws are also known as anti-evolution statutes. They were created to prevent the teaching of evolution in schools and promote the teaching of creationism instead.

For example, in the 1920s, the state of Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which made it illegal for teachers to teach the theory of evolution in public schools. This law was challenged in the famous Scopes Monkey Trial, where a teacher was prosecuted for teaching evolution in his classroom.

However, in 1968, the Supreme Court ruled in Epperson v. Arkansas that these types of laws were unconstitutional because they violated the Establishment Clause. This clause prohibits the government from promoting or endorsing any particular religion.

Today, evolution is widely accepted as a scientific theory and is taught in schools across the United States. However, there are still some groups who advocate for the teaching of creationism or intelligent design alongside evolution.