Reading Room Document

Constitutionality of Government Commission's Use of Logo Including an Historical Cross in its Design

The Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Commission's use of a logo consisting of the number 500 with a cross in one of the zeros, and a star in the other, does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The use of a cross with clear historical associations in the design of a government commission's logo is compatible with the Supreme Court's holding in Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984). Furthermore, the Establishment Clause does not require a per se rule against the inclusion of religious symbolism in government emblems. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/23881/download.

December 9, 1986