Title: First Amendment | Contents, Freedoms, Rights, & Facts | Britannica
Headings: First Amendment
First Amendment
United States Constitution
Which government actions are subject to the First Amendment?
Freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition

Content: There is likewise no violation if a private university expels a student for what the student said, if a commercial landlord restricts what bumper stickers are sold on the property it owns, or if an Internet service provider refuses to host certain Web sites. Legislatures sometimes enact laws that protect speakers or religious observers from retaliation by private organizations. For example, Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans religious discrimination even by private employers. Similarly, laws in some states prohibit employers from firing employees for off-duty political activity. But such prohibitions are imposed by legislative choice rather than by the First Amendment. Freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition
The freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition—discussed here together as “ freedom of expression ”—broadly protect expression from governmental restrictions. Thus, for instance, the government may not outlaw antiwar speech, speech praising violence, racist speech, pro- communist speech, and the like. Nor may the government impose special taxes on speech on certain topics or limit demonstrations that express certain views. The government also may not authorize civil lawsuits based on people’s speech, unless the speech falls within a traditionally recognized First Amendment exception. This is why, for example, people may not sue for emotional distress inflicted by offensive magazine articles about them, unless the articles are not just offensive but include false statements that fall within the defamation exception ( see below Permissible restrictions on expression ).