Free Speech / First Amendment
Amendment I (1791)
"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."
Explanation
"The first ten amendments comprise the Bill of Rights. The first amendment protects religious freedom by prohibiting the establishment of an official or exclusive church or sect. Free speech and free press are protected, although they can be limited for reasons of defamation, obscenity, and certain forms of state censorship, especially during wartime. The freedom of assembly and petition also covers marching, picketing and pamphleteering."
"On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States therefore proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution that met arguments most frequently advanced against it. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights."
"Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans."
"Constitutional rights" and "civil liberties" may seem like abstract concepts but they have a profound impact on our daily lives. They guarantee your freedom to express your opinion and your freedom to worship -- or not worship -- in the religion of your choice. They ensure you won't be rejected from housing because of your gender or your race. They help ensure you will have a fair trial and will not be excessively punished."
"Free speech is one of the most cherished of American values. The First Amendment to the Constitution was written to address this value and since then few rights have been more hotly defended than the right to express one's view without interference from the government."
“The First Amendment exists to insure that freedom of speech and expression applies not just to that with which we agree or disagree, but also that which we find outrageous. I would not amend that great shield of democracy to hammer a few miscreants. The flag will be flying proudly long after they have slunk away.”
"Civil liberties deals primarily with those constitutional amendment that give Americans the right to freedom of religion, speech, to peaceably assemble, to carry arms, to be free of discrimination, and the rights to be free of search or seizures without probable cause."
1. Establish a state religion or prefer certain religion (the "Establishment Clause")
2. Prohibit the free exercise of religion (the "Free Exercise Clause")
3. Infringe the freedom of speech
4. Infringe the freedom of the press
5. Limit the right to assemble peaceably
6. Limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances
"The Bill of Rights stands in striking contrast to the Constitution. While the Constitution was penned as a masterful document which lays forth the powers and offices of the new government, the Bill of Rights states the things over which the government's powers may not be extended. This was an ingenious invention because the Constitution doesn't provide protection from a repeat of the tyranny which had just been warred upon. That was the catalyst for the formation of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was the perfect compromise because, as seen in the Constitution, it is the people who grant power to the government, thus it is impossible for the government to grant freedom to the people. The Bill of Rights was not written to be a list of the freedoms of American citizens, it was provided as a list of the things upon which the government may not encroach. This safeguard helped put the fears of the citizens to rest and also instilled a sense of ownership in them in respect to the government."
Excerpt from "Synergism Within the Bill of Rights" To commemorate Bill of Rights Day (December 15, 2003), the Advocates co-sponsored an essay contest with the Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County, FL. A $500 scholarship was awarded for the best essay submitted from high school students in Okaloosa County. The topic for the essays was, “Synergism Within the Bill of Rights." Our congratulations to Andrew Ausley, a 17-year-old homeschooled student from, Niceville, FL, who wrote the winning essay.
"Liberty is the freedom to act as you please so long as you don't coerce others. Liberty means you can associate with others voluntarily, you can speak and publish freely, you can practice the religion of your choice (or none at all), keep what you earn, run your own business, and love and live as you please (so long as you don't violate the rights of others)."
Helpful Links
From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 — well before the Internet was on most people's radar — and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights.
