Any constitutional law experts here?

[XemaSab]

The local Tea Party meets in a Pentecostal church.

I, for one, find this creepy.

Is it legal?

(I should also mention that my Representative's flunky comes every week.)

[leftstreet]

1. Why wouldn't it be legal?

:shrug:

[XemaSab]

2. Tax reasons

:P

[Tunkamerica]

4. do they meet during services? collect money from members of the church?

[Tunkamerica]

3. The tea party can only meet in baptist churches

it says so in the constitution.

[OHdem10]

5. Holding Meetings in churches is not illegal.

Historically, in some areas, for example the African
Americans used Churches for meetings. This was what
was available.

You cross the line if the Minister from the Pulpit
advocates or suggests you vote for a certain candidate, etc.
This can get the tax exempt status revoked.

[TheWraith]

6. My local Democratic committee meets in the Catholic church's bingo hall. nt

[backscatter712]

7. Perfectly legal.

[mentalsolstice]

8. Without more info, I'd say it's legal.

Our neighborhood association (required and recognized by the city) meets in a hall of a Southern Baptist church, simply because they offer up the best space. They don't proselytize while we're there. And we've been known to have meetings that required police intervention. So far, few complaints, and with a new neighborhood president and city councilwoman, it appears that it will be the meeting spot for the time-being.

[Journeyman]

9. My neighborhood polling place alternates between two churches. . .

I prefer it there over the whack job fundamentalist's home it was at a few years back.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. This is DU...

....where 'unconstitutional' usually means 'I don't like'.

It's good to see someone ask first. More power to ye.

[DainBramaged]

11. I just had my morning constitution......

:evilgrin:

[PoliticAverse]

12. IRS 'fact sheet' on 501(c)(3) Organizations and political activity

Election Year Activities and the Prohibition on Political Campaign Intervention for Section 501(c)(3) Organizations:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154712,00.html

See also Publication 1828 "Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations":

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf