Welcome to my Civic Blog, completely focused on the First Amendment and it’s application in modern day society! I could not be more excited to spend this semester going into detail on the topic of free speech in the US. To be able to really dive into this topic and apply it to all of our lives, however, it is necessary to explain what the First Amendment is in the first place; so, that is what we will be unpacking here today!
What is the First Amendment?
The First Amendment is the first amendment that was made to the US Constitution (as the name suggests!). Twelve Amendments were introduced by James Madison in 1789, and ten of the twelve would go on to become what we now call the Bill of Rights. One of the twelve was never passed, while the other was not ratified until 1992 when it became the 27th Amendment.
According to the White House, “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.”
What is freedom of speech?
Throughout US History, the Supreme Court has struggled to determine what exactly meets the parameters of free speech. It is usually defined as direct speech (words) and symbolic speech (actions). Through many different case outcomes, the US Courts have determined that freedom of speech includes the right not to speak, of students to wear colored armbands to protest topics such as war, to use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages, to contribute money to political campaigns, to advertise commercial products and professional services, and to engage in symbolic speech.
What is freedom of the press?
Freedom of the press is what protects the voices of news officials and broadcasters, journalists, writers, and more. Without this right, the facts and opinions voiced in media and news outlets would not be protected, and could be infringed upon by the US government.
According to ACLU, freedom of the press is critical to a democracy in order to hold the government accountable to the people. It also creates a great space for individuals to share and learn of new topics, facts, and ideas. Freedom of the press also allows journalists to serve as watchdogs to investigate and report on government wrongdoing.
What is freedom of assembly?
Freedom of assembly ensures that people can gather and host meetings publicly and privately. This right allows people to host meetings based off of shared interests (such as clubs), play sports (in teams), host academic classes or study sessions, and so much more. According to the Human Rights House, however, governments often violate the freedom of assembly to suppress dissent and certain voices.
Unfortunately the rules of freedom of assembly become murky when it comes to public protests, even when peaceful. The right of peaceful protest is a core component to the First Amendment; however, peaceful protestors are often subject to arrest, violence, threats, and/or manipulation by law enforcement.
That’s a wrap on an introduction to the First Amendment of the US Constitution (and the Bill of Rights)! Thanks for sticking around, and see you next time when we discuss the freedom of the press in more detail, and delve into how it applies to modern day life in today’s society 🙂