Title: First Amendment Law - HG.org
Headings: First Amendment
First Amendment
Freedom of Speech / Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Religion
Right to Assemble / Right to Petition
Conclusion
Copyright HG.org
Articles on HG.org Related to the First Amendment Law

Content: First Amendment Law - HG.org
First Amendment
Law Center
Articles on HG.org Related to the First Amendment Law
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The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is arguably one of the most important laws in America. It prohibits the enactment of any laws respecting the establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing upon the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble, or prohibiting citizens from petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted into the U.S. Constitution as a part of the first ten amendments, known as the "Bill of Rights" in 1791. Freedom of Speech / Freedom of the Press
Today the First Amendment is almost synonymous in the minds of Americans with the freedom of speech and free press. The right to speak and write freely on virtually any topic is a right that has been fiercely protected by both the U.S. Supreme Court and the citizens as a whole. As a general rule, a person can say or write virtually anything about any person or topic, so long as it is truthful or based on an honest opinion, and cannot be held liable, either criminally or civilly for such statements. Certain types of speech are more readily protected than others. For example, commercial speech is heavily regulated because of the public interest in preventing false or misleading advertising, but political speech, or statements critical of the government, is one of the most strongly protected because of the interest in allowing differing, possibly unpopular opinions to be voiced. Artistic expression is also frequently protected under the First Amendment as a form of free speech or free press, which has led to a broad body of case law on topics such as obscenity and public indecency.