Parliament's upper house approved a bill to impose new restrictions on charities and other private groups and require government approval of their activities.

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice; however, in some cases authorities imposed restrictions on certain groups.

Another $93 billion in funds will come from new annual fees imposed on groups such as pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers.

The measure would also require the administration to impose sanctions on individuals, groups or companies that the United States identifies as weapons proliferators.

In the past, the Government imposed restrictions on certain Islamic groups, primarily the small number of Shi'a.

This right, the Roberts decision continues, is crucial in preventing the majority from imposing its views on groups that would rather express other, perhaps unpopular, ideas.

The government imposes few controls on religious groups, and many remain unregistered, typically evangelical churches with few members.

Many restaurants take away all choice by imposing an automatic service charge of 18 percent, or even 20 percent, on large groups.

Recently, significant restrictions have been imposed on artistic groups which propagate Polish culture.

It remains to be seen whether the government will now stop trying to impose the pledge on other groups.