First Amendment to the United States Constitution

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amendment I (the First Amendment) of the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights. It states:

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.

Thus, it prevents the United States Congress from passing any law which:

establishes a religion
restricts religious freedom
restricts free speech
restricts the freedom of the press
restricts the right of the people to demonstrate against the government

The consequences of this Amendment to American society have been profound. First Amendment questions have been raised with regard to the separation of church and state; civil rights issues; pornography and obscenity; political speech and organizations; journalism and its restrictions; involuntary commitment laws; and many more.

External links

freedomforum.org: First Amendment

United States Bill of Rights
United States Constitution

2nd Amendment

See also

External links