Freedom of Speech
Definition
A principle enshrined in First Amendment which allows individuals express their opinions without fear of governmental retaliation or censorship.
Analogy
Imagine Freedom of Speech as an open mic night at a café – anyone can get up on stage and say what they want without being stopped (as long as it doesn't incite violence or cause harm to others).
Related terms
Censorship: The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Slander: The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.
Libel: A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
"Freedom of Speech" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (20)
- Which case first applied the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to protect freedom of speech and press?
- How does the evolution of Supreme Court interpretations on freedom of speech reflect changing societal values?
- Which amendment protects the freedom of speech?
- Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech?
- Which amendment to the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech?
- Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition?
- Why has the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech remained a fundamental aspect of American democracy?
- What amendment to the United States Constitution protects freedom of speech and religion?
- Under what circumstances can limitations be placed on Freedom of Speech according to Supreme Court decisions?
- What is a direct impact of the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech?
- What factor has contributed most significantly to maintaining freedom of speech as an integral part of American democracy?
- In which scenario is a citizen's right to freedom of speech limited under the First Amendment?
- Which court case restricted the First Amendment right to freedom of speech during wartime?
- Which Supreme Court case expanded the interpretation of freedom of speech in the First Amendment to incorporate symbolic forms?
- How might the US legal landscape look today if the Supreme Court had ruled against freedom of speech in the Schenck v. United States case?
- What is a recurring trend seen in the application of the First Amendment concerning freedom of speech?
- Why has the First Amendment, protecting freedom of speech and expression, continued to be a central aspect of American democracy?
- Which Supreme Court case first applied selective incorporation with respect to freedom of speech?
- How might the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech impact future politics concerning hate speech regulation?
- How do attitudes towards freedom of speech reflected in current opinion polls compare with those displayed after World War II?
Resources
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