What does the 1st amendment say?

Asked by: Prof. Wyatt Swaniawski  |  Last update: September 4, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (74 votes)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

What does the 1st Amendment mean in simple terms?

The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual's religious practices.

What are the 5 rights in the 1st Amendment?

The five freedoms it protects: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Together, these five guaranteed freedoms make the people of the United States of America the freest in the world.

What is the 1st Amendment in kid terms?

The First Amendment protects several basic freedoms in the United States including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government.

Why is the 1st Amendment so important?

The First Amendment is widely considered to be the most important part of the Bill of Rights. It protects the fundamental rights of conscience—the freedom to believe and express different ideas—in a variety of ways.

The First Amendment Explained

23 related questions found

Does freedom of speech mean you can say anything?

Does freedom of speech mean you can say anything? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that the specific law will depend on the country you're in, but generally, there will always be exceptions to the rule.

What isn't protected by the First Amendment?

Defamation (including libel and slander) Child pornography. Perjury. Blackmail.

What are the 3 restrictions to freedom of speech?

Time, place, and manner. Limitations based on time, place, and manner apply to all speech, regardless of the view expressed. They are generally restrictions that are intended to balance other rights or a legitimate government interest.

Does freedom of speech have limits?

The First Amendment's protections include the vast majority of speech and expression, but it does have its limits. These limits have been carefully honed over decades of case law into a handful of narrow categories of speech that the First Amendment does not protect.

How does the First Amendment protect citizens?

The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms.

What is the 2nd Amendment in simple terms?

“The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.”

Why is the 2nd amendment important?

The importance of the second amendment is the ability to rebel against a tyrannical government. It also gives citizens the right to protect themselves, without restrictions from the government. The Second Amendment also allows us to protect ourselves from foreign and domestic attacks, if the government won't.

What are the 6 freedoms in the First Amendment?

The words of the First Amendment itself establish six rights: (1) the right to be free from governmental establishment of religion (the “Establishment Clause”), (2) the right to be free from governmental interference with the practice of religion (the “Free Exercise Clause”), (3) the right to free speech, (4) the right ...

Which of the following would most likely be protected by the First Amendment?

The First Amendment restrains only the government. The Supreme Court has interpreted “speech” and “press” broadly as covering not only talking, writing, and printing, but also broadcasting, using the Internet, and other forms of expression.

How is the First Amendment used today?

Thus, the First Amendment now covers actions by federal, state, and local governments. The First Amendment also applies to all branches of government, including legislatures, courts, juries, and executive officials and agencies. This includes public employers, public university systems, and public school systems.

Is hate speech covered by freedom of speech?

While “hate speech” is not a legal term in the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that most of what would qualify as hate speech in other western countries is legally protected free speech under the First Amendment.

Is yelling fire protected speech?

Despite Schenck being limited, the phrase "shouting fire in a crowded theater" has become synonymous with speech that, because of its danger of provoking violence, is not protected by the First Amendment.

Is cursing protected by the First Amendment?

At times, profanity is a non-protected speech category

Profanity can be regulated, however, under certain circumstances consistent with the First Amendment. Profane rants that cross the line into direct face-to-face personal insults or fighting words are not protected by the First Amendment.

Which of the following examples shows a violation of someone's First Amendment rights?

Which example shows a violation of someone's First Amendment rights? A college fraternity composed of close friends who share living quarters is forced to admit women. What are the words used by the religion clause in the First Amendment?

What is unprotected speech?

It means speech that is completely prohibited subject to governmental regulations. Unprotected speech can be classified into obscenity, fighting words, fraudulent misrepresentation, advocacy of imminent lawless behavior, and defamation.

What is the legal definition of hate speech?

There is no legal definition of "hate speech" under U.S. law, just as there is no legal definition for evil ideas, rudeness, unpatriotic speech, or any other kind of speech that people might condemn.

What are the limits of freedom?

Freedom of expression is limited, most notably as it pertains to the violation of moral values and to the transmission of messages that incite hatred and violence (racism, discrimination, etc.) Access to information is an important aspect of the right to the free exchange of ideas and information.

What types of speech are illegal?

The Court generally identifies these categories as obscenity, defamation, fraud, incitement, fighting words, true threats, speech integral to criminal conduct, and child pornography.

Do I have the right to bear arms?

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Such language has created considerable debate regarding the Amendment's intended scope.