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Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.
Jun 13, 2024 · Learn about the right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content, as stated in the 1st and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Explore the legal tests, cases, and issues related to freedom of speech and of the press, such as defamation, obscenity, and prior restraint.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- First Amendment
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- When Isn’T Speech Protected?
- Freedom of Expression
- Free Speech in Schools
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In the United States, the First Amendmentprotects freedom of speech. The First Amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. The Bill of Rightsprovides constitutional protection for certain individual liberties, including freedoms of speech, assembly and worship....
While freedom of speech pertains mostly to the spoken or written word, it also protects some forms of symbolic speech. Symbolic speech is an action that expresses an idea. Flag burning is an example of symbolic speech that is protected under the First Amendment. Gregory Lee Johnson, a youth communist, burned a flag during the 1984 Republican Nation...
Not all speech is protected under the First Amendment. Forms of speech that aren’t protected include: 1. Obscene material such as child pornography 2. Plagiarism of copyrighted material 3. Defamation (libel and slander) 4. True threats Speech inciting illegal actions or soliciting others to commit crimes aren’t protected under the First Amendment, ...
The Supreme Court has interpreted artistic freedom broadly as a form of free speech. In most cases, freedom of expression may be restricted only if it will cause direct and imminent harm. Shouting “fire!” in a crowded theater and causing a stampede would be an example of direct and imminent harm. In deciding cases involving artistic freedom of expr...
In 1965, students at a public high school in Des Moines, Iowa, organized a silent protest against the Vietnam Warby wearing black armbands to protest the fighting. The students were suspended from school. The principal argued that the armbands were a distraction and could possibly lead to danger for the students. The Supreme Court didn’t bite—they ...
What does free speech mean?; United States Courts. Tinker v. Des Moines; United States Courts. Freedom of expression in the arts and entertainment; ACLU.
Learn about the origins, meaning and scope of freedom of speech in the United States and other democracies. Explore the landmark cases and controversies that shaped the First Amendment and its interpretation by the Supreme Court.
Jan 19, 2024 · 1. What is Freedom of Speech? 2. Justifying Free Speech. 2.1 Listener theories. 2.2 Speaker theories. 2.3 Democracy theories. 2.4 Thinker theories. 2.5 Toleration theories. 2.6 Instrumental theories: political abuse and slippery slopes. 2.7 Free speech skepticism. 3. Justifying Speech Restrictions. 3.1 Absoluteness, coverage, and protection.
- David van Mill
- 2002
Learn how Amnesty International defends the right to freedom of expression, which is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Find out how governments around the world violate this right and how you can support peaceful dissent.
Learn what freedom of speech is, why it is a human right, and when it can be restricted. Explore the cases of prisoners of conscience, anti-protest laws, and media and journalists.
Explore the examples of speech that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided are either protected by the First Amendment or not. Learn about the rights and limitations of freedom of speech in different contexts and situations.
