The phrase “separation of church and state” is not written verbatim in the Constitution. The idea comes mainly from the First Amendment, especially the Establishment Clause, which says Congress shall make no law “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Where it shows up

  • First Amendment: This is the key place people point to when talking about church-state separation.
  • Establishment Clause: It prevents the government from creating an official religion or favoring one religion over another.
  • Free Exercise Clause: It also protects people’s right to practice religion without government interference.

What the phrase means

The famous wording comes from Thomas Jefferson’s later “wall of separation” language, which helped shape how many people interpret the First Amendment. So while the exact phrase is absent, the constitutional principle is still widely recognized through those religion clauses.

TL;DR

  • Not in the Constitution word-for-word.
  • The concept comes from the First Amendment.
  • The main clauses are the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause.