Chapter 4Chapter 4The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

Section 1Section 1

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

FreedomsFreedoms

The bill of rights places strict limits on The bill of rights places strict limits on how the national government can use its how the national government can use its power over the peoplepower over the people

The Bill of rights we designed to protect The Bill of rights we designed to protect our civil libertiesour civil liberties

Civil libertiesCivil liberties are the freedoms we have are the freedoms we have to think and act without government to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment. interference or fear of unfair treatment.

11stst Amendment Amendment

"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

The First Amendment The First Amendment

Protects our five basic freedomsProtects our five basic freedoms Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Freedom of speechFreedom of speech Freedom of pressFreedom of press Freedom of assemblyFreedom of assembly Freedom of petitionFreedom of petition

Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

Prohibits congress Prohibits congress from establishing an from establishing an official religionofficial religion

Protects the freedom of Protects the freedom of Americans to practice Americans to practice their faith as the wishtheir faith as the wish

Protects peoples right Protects peoples right not to worshipnot to worship

Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

Guarantees that we can say what is on Guarantees that we can say what is on our minds, in public or in private, without our minds, in public or in private, without fear of punishment by the governmentfear of punishment by the government

Includes, face to face discussions, Includes, face to face discussions, telephone conversations, lectures, radio, telephone conversations, lectures, radio, and TV broadcast. Also includes other and TV broadcast. Also includes other forms of expression (internet, art, forms of expression (internet, art, clothing, and music)clothing, and music)

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

Freedom of the press ensures that the Freedom of the press ensures that the American people are exposed to a wide variety American people are exposed to a wide variety of viewpoints.of viewpoints.

Includes books, newspapers, magazines, radio Includes books, newspapers, magazines, radio , television, and internet, television, and internet

Insure that the government cannot practice Insure that the government cannot practice censorshipcensorship

Censorship is ban materials merely because of Censorship is ban materials merely because of the ideas they contain.the ideas they contain.

Freedom of AssemblyFreedom of Assembly

Protect our right to gather in groups for any Protect our right to gather in groups for any reason, as long as the assemblies are peacefulreason, as long as the assemblies are peaceful

We have the right to attend meetings, parades, We have the right to attend meetings, parades, political rallies, and public celebrations.political rallies, and public celebrations.

Government may make rules about when and Government may make rules about when and where such activities can be held, but they where such activities can be held, but they cannot ban them cannot ban them

Freedom to PetitionFreedom to Petition

Guarantees all American the right to Guarantees all American the right to petition the governmentpetition the government

A petition is a formal request often refers A petition is a formal request often refers to a specific kind of document. to a specific kind of document.

The right to petition means the right to The right to petition means the right to express one’s ideas to the governmentexpress one’s ideas to the government

Limits to First Limits to First Amendment FreedomsAmendment Freedoms

The safety and security of Americans may The safety and security of Americans may justify limitations to our first amendment justify limitations to our first amendment freedomsfreedoms

The right to free speech for example does not The right to free speech for example does not include the right to endanger our government include the right to endanger our government or other Americans.or other Americans.

Citizens should use their civil liberties Citizens should use their civil liberties responsibly, and not interfere with the rights of responsibly, and not interfere with the rights of other. other.

Your rights end where someone else's rights Your rights end where someone else's rights beginbegin

Limits to First Limits to First Amendment FreedomsAmendment Freedoms

The first amendment was never The first amendment was never intended to allow Americans to do intended to allow Americans to do what ever they please. Unlimited what ever they please. Unlimited freedom is not possible in a society of freedom is not possible in a society of many peoplemany people

SlanderSlander, Spreading lies that harm a , Spreading lies that harm a person’s reputation (must be spoken to person’s reputation (must be spoken to be slander)be slander)

LibelLibel – Spreading lies that harm a – Spreading lies that harm a person’s reputation (must be written) person’s reputation (must be written)