The first amendment contains five of the most precious freedoms of any constitutional republic. They are freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Collectively, these allow people to worship (or not worship) a god, learn about the society they live in, and express their opinions to anyone—including and especially to the government—without fear of harassment or arrest.
Learn more about these rights and their importance to democracy by clicking on the tabs below.
Almost all of the rights described above come with some limitations, indicating that there are irresponsible uses of these rights. What are some other irresponsible uses of your first amendment rights?