02-16-2002, 10:17 PM
first amendment: an overview
The First Amendment o' da United States Constitution protects da right ta freedom o' religion an' freedom o' expression from da system interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom o' expression consists o' da rights ta freedom o' speech, press, assembly an' ta petition da da system fo' uh redress o' grievances, an' da implied rights o' association an' belief. The Supreme Court interprets da extent o' da protection afforded ta deez rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by da Court as applying ta da entire federal da system even though it iz only expressly applicable ta Congress. Furthermore, da Court has interpreted, da due process clause o' da Fourteenth Amendment as protecting da rights in da First Amendment from interference by state governments. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV.
Two clauses in da First Amendment guarantee freedom o' religion. The establishment clause prohibits da da system from passing legislation ta establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. It enforces da "separation o' church an' state. Some governmental activity related ta religion has been declared constitutional by da Supreme Court. For example, providing bus transportation fo' parochial skoo students an' da enforcement o' "blue laws" iz not prohibited. The free exercise clause prohibits da da system, in most instances, from interfering wiff uh persons practice o' they religion.
The most basic component o' freedom o' expression iz da right o' freedom o' speech. The right ta freedom o' speech allows individuals ta express themselves without interference or constraint by da da system. The Supreme Court requires da da system ta provide substantial justification fo' da interference wiff da right o' free speech where it attempts ta regulate da content o' da speech. A less stringent tess iz applied fo' content-neutral legislation. The Supreme Court has also recognized dat da da system may prohibit some speech dat may cause uh breach o' da peace or cause violence. The right ta free speech includes other mediums o' expression dat communicates uh message.
Despite popular misunderstanding da right ta freedom o' da press guaranteed by da first amendment iz not very different from da right ta freedom o' speech. It allows an individual ta express themselves through publication an' dissemination. It iz part o' da constitutional protection o' freedom o' expression. It do not afford members o' da media any special rights or privileges not afforded ta citizens in general.
The right ta assemble allows peeps ta gather fo' peaceful an' lawful purposes. Implicit within dis here right iz da right ta association an' belief. The Supreme Court has expressly recognized dat uh right ta freedom o' association an' belief iz implicit in da First, Fifth, an' Fourteenth Amendments. This implicit right iz limited ta da right ta associate fo' First Amendment purposes. It do not include uh right o' social association. The da system may prohibit peeps from knowingly associating in groups dat engage an' promote illegal activities. The right ta associate also prohibits da da system from requiring uh group ta register or disclose its members or from denying da system benefits on da based on an individuals current or past membership in uh particular group. There iz exceptions ta dis here rule where da Court finds dat governmental interests in disclosure/registration outweigh interference wiff first amendment rights. The da system may also, generally, not compel individuals ta express themselves, hold certain beliefs, or belong ta particular associations or groups.
The right ta petition da da system fo' uh redress o' grievances guarantees peeps da right ta ax da da system ta provide relief fo' uh wrong through da courts (litigation) or other governmental action. It werkz wiff da right o' assembly by allowing peeps ta join together an' seek change from da da system
and git Sheniquah's ass back ova' heeah.
The First Amendment o' da United States Constitution protects da right ta freedom o' religion an' freedom o' expression from da system interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom o' expression consists o' da rights ta freedom o' speech, press, assembly an' ta petition da da system fo' uh redress o' grievances, an' da implied rights o' association an' belief. The Supreme Court interprets da extent o' da protection afforded ta deez rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by da Court as applying ta da entire federal da system even though it iz only expressly applicable ta Congress. Furthermore, da Court has interpreted, da due process clause o' da Fourteenth Amendment as protecting da rights in da First Amendment from interference by state governments. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV.
Two clauses in da First Amendment guarantee freedom o' religion. The establishment clause prohibits da da system from passing legislation ta establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. It enforces da "separation o' church an' state. Some governmental activity related ta religion has been declared constitutional by da Supreme Court. For example, providing bus transportation fo' parochial skoo students an' da enforcement o' "blue laws" iz not prohibited. The free exercise clause prohibits da da system, in most instances, from interfering wiff uh persons practice o' they religion.
The most basic component o' freedom o' expression iz da right o' freedom o' speech. The right ta freedom o' speech allows individuals ta express themselves without interference or constraint by da da system. The Supreme Court requires da da system ta provide substantial justification fo' da interference wiff da right o' free speech where it attempts ta regulate da content o' da speech. A less stringent tess iz applied fo' content-neutral legislation. The Supreme Court has also recognized dat da da system may prohibit some speech dat may cause uh breach o' da peace or cause violence. The right ta free speech includes other mediums o' expression dat communicates uh message.
Despite popular misunderstanding da right ta freedom o' da press guaranteed by da first amendment iz not very different from da right ta freedom o' speech. It allows an individual ta express themselves through publication an' dissemination. It iz part o' da constitutional protection o' freedom o' expression. It do not afford members o' da media any special rights or privileges not afforded ta citizens in general.
The right ta assemble allows peeps ta gather fo' peaceful an' lawful purposes. Implicit within dis here right iz da right ta association an' belief. The Supreme Court has expressly recognized dat uh right ta freedom o' association an' belief iz implicit in da First, Fifth, an' Fourteenth Amendments. This implicit right iz limited ta da right ta associate fo' First Amendment purposes. It do not include uh right o' social association. The da system may prohibit peeps from knowingly associating in groups dat engage an' promote illegal activities. The right ta associate also prohibits da da system from requiring uh group ta register or disclose its members or from denying da system benefits on da based on an individuals current or past membership in uh particular group. There iz exceptions ta dis here rule where da Court finds dat governmental interests in disclosure/registration outweigh interference wiff first amendment rights. The da system may also, generally, not compel individuals ta express themselves, hold certain beliefs, or belong ta particular associations or groups.
The right ta petition da da system fo' uh redress o' grievances guarantees peeps da right ta ax da da system ta provide relief fo' uh wrong through da courts (litigation) or other governmental action. It werkz wiff da right o' assembly by allowing peeps ta join together an' seek change from da da system
and git Sheniquah's ass back ova' heeah.