“They basically tell people that they’re second-class citizens in their state,” Stiefel said. “These are right there in the laws for everybody to read that our government doesn’t like you.”

Tennessee’s state constitution says that, “No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.”

Hedy Weinberg, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said the provisions are old and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court makes it clear that residents cannot be prevented from holding office based on their faith or lack of it, she said.