NEWS AND VIEWS

Religion In Public Schools | | June 17, 2013

Group complains about prayer at Texas school

The Freedom From Religious Foundation has sent a letter to a Texas public school district saying it violated the constitution when a principal led students and parents in prayer before a kindergarten graduation.

Assembly News | | June 12, 2013

Judge sides with arrested Supreme Court protester

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a protester arrested two years ago while demonstrating on the plaza of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In The News | | June 11, 2013

Ellsberg: No leaks more significant than Snowden’s

Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg calls the revelations by a government contractor on U.S. secret surveillance programs the most “significant disclosure” in the nation’s history.

Speech Commentary | | June 10, 2013

Loudness and liberty: When free speech is shouted down

Shouting down or drowning out speakers is not an exercise is free speech. No ideas are exchanged when the speech from one party or group is simply designed to inhibit the speech of another.

Freedom Of Information News | | June 5, 2013

Conn. lawmakers OK compromise Newtown privacy bill

Connecticut lawmakers passed a compromise bill early Wednesday preventing the release of crime-scene photos and video evidence from the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and other Connecticut homicides.

Religion News | | June 5, 2013

Federal prosecutor booed at forum on tolerance

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee tried to explain tolerance to an audience in Manchester. Most wanted none of it.

Press | | June 5, 2013

Ohio school board considers creationism education

Board members of a southwest Ohio school district are keeping on the table a proposal to add creationism to the curriculum.

Speech | | May 31, 2013

Watchdogs oppose NC undercover investigations bill

A North Carolina bill criminalizing undercover investigations into workplace abuses has drawn opposition from at least 25 animal welfare, worker and watchdog groups.

Speech News | | May 31, 2013

Feds, soldier’s supporter in Wikileaks case settle

The federal government has agreed to destroy all data obtained from a computer and other electronic devices seized from an outspoken advocate of an Army private accused of sending more than 700,000 classified U.S. documents to Wikileaks, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.

Press | | May 31, 2013

News execs, Holder discuss subpoena issue

In a meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder, executives from several news organizations said government officials expressed a commitment to changing guidelines on issuing subpoenas in criminal investigations involving reporters.

Press | | May 31, 2013

Roberts says AG Holder should resign

Sen. Pat Roberts said Thursday that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder should resign over allegations that he knew of the gathering of journalists’ telephone records and emails.

Press | | May 30, 2013

Magazine fights Colorado limit on pot publication

A day after Colorado enacted a law taking marijuana magazines off store racks, three publications sued to block the provision.

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About The First Amendment Center

We support the First Amendment and build understanding of its core freedoms through education, information and entertainment.

The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government.

Founded by John Seigenthaler, the First Amendment Center is an operating program of the Freedom Forum and is associated with the Newseum and the Diversity Institute. The center has offices in the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The center’s programs, including the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum, provide education and information to the public and groups including First Amendment scholars and experts, educators, government policy makers, legal experts and students. The center is nonpartisan and does not lobby, litigate or provide legal advice. See First Amendment Center Fact Sheet and FAQs. See internships info.

The center’s website, www.firstamendmentcenter.org, is one of the most authoritative sources of news, information and commentary in the nation on First Amendment issues. It features daily updates on news about First Amendment-related developments, as well as detailed reports about U.S. Supreme Court cases involving the First Amendment, and commentary, analysis and special reports on free expression, press freedom and religious-liberty issues. Support the work of the First Amendment Center.

1 For All

1 for All is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms. 1 for All provides teaching materials to the nation’s schools, supports educational events on America’s campuses and reminds the public that the First Amendment serves everyone, regardless of faith, race, gender or political leanings. It is truly one amendment for all. Visit 1 for All at http://1forall.us/

Help tomorrow’s citizens find their voice: Teach the First Amendment

The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans – embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes.

These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 200 years ago. These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican – they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government.

We know from studies beginning in 1997 by the nonpartisan First Amendment Center, and from studies commissioned by the Knight Foundation and others, that few adult Americans or high school students can name the individual five freedoms that make up the First Amendment.

The lesson plans – drawn from materials prepared by the Newseum and the First Amendment Center – will draw young people into an exploration of how their freedoms began and how they operate in today’s world. Students will discuss just how far individual rights extend, examining rights in the school environment and public places. The lessons may be used in history and government, civics, language arts and journalism, art and debate classes. They may be used in sections or in their entirety. Many of these lesson plans indicate an overall goal, offer suggestions on how to teach the lesson and list additional resources and enrichment activities.

See more about lesson plans.

First Amendment Moot Court Competition

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – the cornerstone of American democracy – is the focus of the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Recognized as one of the nation's finest constitutional-law competitions, this annual event features a current First Amendment controversy.

During the two-day competition in February, each team will participate in a minimum of four rounds, arguing a hypothetical based on a current First Amendment controversy before panels of accomplished jurists, legal scholars and attorneys.

Past participants in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition have represented law schools nationwide, from Brooklyn Law School to Duke University to Arizona State to Harvard.

The 23rd Annual National First Amendment Moot Court Competition is Feb. 21-22, 2013. See registration information and details about the competition.

FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER ARCHIVES

State of the First Amendment survey reports

The State of the First Amendment surveys, commissioned since 1997 by the First Amendment Center and Newseum, are a regular check on how Americans view their first freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion and petition.

The periodic surveys examine public attitudes toward freedom of speech, press, religion and the rights of assembly and petition; and sample public opinion on contemporary issues involving those freedoms. See the reports.