2

First Amendment First Amendment RightsRights

The Five FreedomsThe Five Freedoms

3

1. What are civil liberties?1. What are civil liberties?

The freedoms we have to think and The freedoms we have to think and act without government interference act without government interference or fear of unfair treatmentor fear of unfair treatment

4

Know Your Rights!Know Your Rights!

Can you name any of the specific Can you name any of the specific rights guaranteed by the First rights guaranteed by the First Amendment?Amendment?

In the U.S. is it legal to burn the flag In the U.S. is it legal to burn the flag as a means of political protest?as a means of political protest?

Can a public university censor a Can a public university censor a student newspaper?student newspaper?

5

FactsFacts

If you didn’t know the answers to the If you didn’t know the answers to the previous questions you are not alone!previous questions you are not alone!

Only 17% of Americans could name Only 17% of Americans could name all five freedoms guaranteed in the all five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment.First Amendment.

Only 25% of students knew it was Only 25% of students knew it was legal to burn the flag in protest.legal to burn the flag in protest.

As far as censoring a student As far as censoring a student newspaper at a public university, it is newspaper at a public university, it is against the law.against the law.

5

A bill of rights is a statement of an individual citizen’s legal privileges which may not be taken away by a civil government. The concept of a bill of rights comes from English constitutional history, where a feudal contract between a king and his subjects limited his powers and increased the privileges of the subjects. Amendments 2-8 of the American Bill of Rights consist of long-standing civil and legal rights of individual citizens recognized both English and American common law. Page 154 in book

6

Forty-Five Important WordsForty-Five Important Words

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

Congress shall make no law Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of Government for a redress of grievances.grievances.

8

9

3. What does the 13. What does the 1stst amendment amendment prohibit Congress from doing prohibit Congress from doing

concerning religion?concerning religion? Congress cannot establish an official Congress cannot establish an official

religion in the United Statesreligion in the United States The Establishment ClauseThe Establishment Clause

10

4. What else does it protect 4. What else does it protect concerning religion?concerning religion?

Guarantees Americans the right to Guarantees Americans the right to practice their faith as they wishpractice their faith as they wish Free-Exercise ClauseFree-Exercise Clause

They may not favor one religion over They may not favor one religion over another or treat people differently another or treat people differently because of their personal beliefsbecause of their personal beliefs

11

Students & ReligionStudents & Religion

As students, it’s important to know your religious rights in school.

1. You are free to pray alone or in groups, as long as the activity is not disruptive and does not infringe upon the rights of others.

2. As long as it is not disruptive, disrespectful of the rights of other students, and does not pressure or coerce others, you can exercise your faith.

3. Schools cannot organize religious activities. This includes making students pray.

12

REMEMBER:REMEMBER:

The government cannot force you to The government cannot force you to believe in any religion. Everybody believe in any religion. Everybody has the right to practice the faith has the right to practice the faith they believe in, when and where they they believe in, when and where they want to. Thanks for the First want to. Thanks for the First Amendment, we are all guaranteed Amendment, we are all guaranteed the freedom of religion. the freedom of religion.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!!!!!!KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!!!!!!

13

Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

Free speech is the liberty to speak Free speech is the liberty to speak and express one’s opinions. It is the and express one’s opinions. It is the right to express ideas, information, right to express ideas, information, opinions, etc. with very limited opinions, etc. with very limited government restrictions.government restrictions.

14

5. What types of communication 5. What types of communication are protected under freedom of are protected under freedom of

speech?speech?

Face to face Face to face Internet communicationInternet communication ArtArt MusicMusic ClothingClothing

15

Free speech includes the right to Free speech includes the right to criticize public officials, politicians, criticize public officials, politicians, religious leaders, and public and religious leaders, and public and corporate policies. Without this right corporate policies. Without this right a democratic nation could not a democratic nation could not survive.survive.

16

"I disapprove of what you say, but I "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to will defend to the death your right to say it". Commonly attributed to say it". Commonly attributed to VoltaireVoltaire

17

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

6. What does press and media 6. What does press and media include?include?

BooksBooks NewspapersNewspapers MagazinesMagazines RadioRadio TelevisionTelevision InternetInternet

18

7. How does freedom of press limit 7. How does freedom of press limit the government?the government?

The government cannot practice The government cannot practice censorship. censorship.

It cannot ban printed materials or It cannot ban printed materials or films merely because they contain films merely because they contain alarming or offensive ideasalarming or offensive ideas

19

The press is often called “the fourth The press is often called “the fourth branch of government.” It helps to branch of government.” It helps to keep the other three branches in keep the other three branches in check. check.

Without a free press, this would not Without a free press, this would not be possible, and the democratic be possible, and the democratic conditions which we are used to, and conditions which we are used to, and enjoy in the United States, would not enjoy in the United States, would not exist.exist.

20

8. What rights are covered by the 8. What rights are covered by the freedom of assembly?freedom of assembly?

Protects our right to gather in groups Protects our right to gather in groups for any reason, so long as the for any reason, so long as the assemblies are assemblies are peacefulpeaceful. .

They can make rules about when and where, They can make rules about when and where, but cannot ban them.but cannot ban them.

We also have the right to form and We also have the right to form and join social clubs, political parties, and join social clubs, political parties, and labor unions. labor unions.

21

22

Life without Freedom of Life without Freedom of AssemblyAssembly

People would not People would not be allowed to be allowed to peacefully gather peacefully gather in large groups in large groups without without permissionpermission

It would be It would be harder to protest harder to protest opinions and use opinions and use the other the other freedoms freedoms guaranteed in the guaranteed in the first amendmentfirst amendment

23

9. What does freedom of petition 9. What does freedom of petition allow the citizens to do?allow the citizens to do?

The right to express one’s idea to the The right to express one’s idea to the government. government. Petition = formal documentPetition = formal document

24

25

Life Without Freedom of PetitionLife Without Freedom of Petition

People could People could be penalized be penalized for political for political views and views and beliefs.beliefs.

People would People would be unable to be unable to communicate communicate with their with their senators and senators and congressmencongressmen

26

Harry S. Truman, Harry S. Truman, 19501950

““In a free country we punish men In a free country we punish men for crimes they commit but never for crimes they commit but never for the opinions they have.”for the opinions they have.”

27

10. Name some of the limits to 10. Name some of the limits to freedom of speech.freedom of speech.

Do not have the freedom to provoke Do not have the freedom to provoke a riota riot

Cannot speak or write in a way that Cannot speak or write in a way that leads immediately to criminal leads immediately to criminal activities or efforts to overthrow the activities or efforts to overthrow the government by forcegovernment by force

May not spread lies that harm a May not spread lies that harm a person’s reputationperson’s reputation

May not interfere with the rights of May not interfere with the rights of othersothers

28

11. What are the two ways 11. What are the two ways someone can spread lies about someone can spread lies about

someone else?someone else?

Slander = spreading spoken liesSlander = spreading spoken lies Libel = printed liesLibel = printed lies

29

12. Although we have many 12. Although we have many individual freedoms, whose rights individual freedoms, whose rights

come first? come first?

The rights of the communityThe rights of the community

Otherwise, the society would break Otherwise, the society would break apartapart

29

On Moodle:Rate the five First Amendment freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitionin order of importance to you and WHY. I want to know WHY you ranked them this way.