Lawyer Resource Center: The First Amendment
The First Amendment protects a peoples' right to worship, speak, publish, petition and associate as they see fit. The Establishment clause of religion forbids Congress to establish a national religion or to prefer one to another. The amendment also protects the right of citizens to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech covers the right to voice hate, sexism and racism. The freedom to print and distribute opinions is protected under freedom of press. Freedom of press is restricted to defamation and copyright legislation.
Unlike other countries, people in the United States can petition all branches of government without retaliation. The freedom to petition and assembly provide Americans with the right to come together to defend their interests. The first amendment guarantees religious and expression freedom. To many these freedoms can be ambiguous and have faced many challenges. Throughout history, Supreme Court cases have shown the challenges of the first amendment.
Establishment of Religion
- Relationship of Government to Religion
- Supreme Court Cases in the Establishment of Religion
- Amendment One
- The Lemon Test
- Court Decisions
- The Origins of the Establishment of Religion
Free Exercise of Religion
- Free Exercise of Religion in Public Schools
- Free Exercise of Religion and Supreme Court Interpretation
- Purposes and Explanations of the Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of Religion or Belief Study Guide
- Freedom of Religion Explored and Defined by Court Cases
- 2010 Initiative Allows Free Communication of the Bible
Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of Speech and Press
- Freedom of Speech Updates and Resources
- Freedom of Speech vs. Workplace Harassment Law
- Freedom of Speech Cases
- Students and Freedom of Speech
- Supreme Court Freedom of Speech Student Cases
Freedom of the Press
- Opponents of a Free Press
- The Connection Between the Press and Peace
- Criminal Cases and Free Press
- Origins of Freedom of Press
- The School Newspaper Freedom of Press Court Case
- Freedom of Information Supreme Court History
Petition and Assembly
- The Right to Petition the Government
- The Petition of Right
- The Right to Petition
- Freedom of Assembly
- Petition for Freedom
- Download Freedom of Assembly and Petition Cases
