As of the current date, the Pledge of Allegiance remains part of the school system, despite recent legal cases against it. A case was originally bought to the 9th US Circuit of Appeals by Michael Newdow in 1992, arguing that reciting the Pledge in schools was unconstitutional due to the use of the phrase 'under God.' He argued that as an atheist it would be unconstitutional to allow his daughter to recite it as it promoted a monotheistic God. This part of the Pledge was added by Congress in 1954. Although the court ruled in his favour, this decision drew criticism from both the House and the Senate, who denounced its effects, ruling it void. In 2004 Newdow brought an appeal to the Supreme Court, who again rejected his claim on the basis that he was not the custodial parent of the child, sidestepping the issue of what is 'unconstitutional.' On 19 July 2006, the House of Representatives passed legislation protecting the Pledge from being deemed unconstitutional by federal judges and being removed from schools. The motion passed 260-167 and will proceed to the Senate, where it is expected to be ratified by both the Senate and the President.
