Flast v. Cohen

Flast and six other federal taxpayers (plaintiffs) sued Cohen and other federal officials (defendants) to enjoin spending under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, alleging the funding of instruction and materials in religious schools violated the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. The taxpayers sued based solely on their status as federal taxpayers; the lower court held they lacked standing, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.