MORE ARTICLES FROM ‘First Amendment Commentary’

Featured Post • First Amendment Commentary • Speech |

Memo to some at IRS: Free speech is just that

The news that an office of the Internal Revenue Service had targeted for review a number of groups with names that included “patriot” or “tea party” is chilling enough to hear – but there’s even more reason to be concerned from a First Amendment perspective.

First Amendment Commentary • Press |

When NYT v. Sullivan was in Jeopardy: New Article Reveals Burger Court’s Internal Assault on Landmark Case

In First Amendment law the U.S. Supreme Court case, New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) is uniformly considered bedrock—the foundational First Amendment case of modern times. What many do not know is how very close the Burger Court came to cracking the Sullivan bedrock principle of “uninhibited, robust, and wide-open” freedom of expression.

First Amendment Commentary |

Muhammad Ali and the First Amendment

As ‘The Greatest’ boxing champion turns 71, here’s a look back at how his life exemplified our five core freedoms.

Featured Post • First Amendment Commentary • Press |

Rushdie’s chilling reminder to protect free speech

The pen of a solitary novelist came under dire threat by the sword of radical Islam, as grippingly recounted in Salman Rushdie’s new memoir, Joseph Anton.

First Amendment Commentary • Supreme Court Case |

Justice Marshall: eloquent First Amendment defender

Thurgood Marshall had a gift for explaining the importance of the First Amendment in different contexts, such as in these five examples.

First Amendment Commentary • Inside the First Amendment |

This year, let’s resolve to preserve, use, celebrate our core freedoms

Newtown, Westboro, WikiLeaks … these and other issues make some want to curtail the First Amendment in some way, but that’s the wrong way to go.

Featured Post • First Amendment Analysis • First Amendment Commentary |

‘Must reads’ 2012: best of the First Amendment Center Online

Commentary, analysis on Supreme Court rulings and a host of First Amendment issues from throughout the year.

First Amendment Commentary |

Carved in stone: the foundation of freedom

Writer-comedian Chris Bliss’ monument to the Bill of Rights in Phoenix is an inspiring, long-term way to remind Americans of the document that established our core freedoms.

1 for All • First Amendment Commentary |

Celebrating the First Amendment: why ‘land of the free’ is more than a lyric

‘Free to Tweet’ scholarship contest is part of the 1 for All campaign to raise awareness and understanding of our core freedoms.

First Amendment Commentary |

Burger’s birthday: His Court’s rulings shaped First Amendment law

As chief justice from 1969-1986, Warren Burger wrote important Supreme Court majority opinions on the establishment clause, obscenity and prior restraint.

First Amendment Commentary • Supreme Court Case |

Fox ruling: textbook lesson on problem with vague laws

Justices tell FCC that it’s fundamentally unfair to punish without adequate notice of what is prohibited.

First Amendment Commentary |

Painter’s court win affirms visual free expression

11th Circuit rules that First Amendment protection for Daniel A. Moore’s paintings of University of Alabama football scenes outweighs the university’s trademark interest.

First Amendment Commentary |

N.J. condo-sign ruling shows importance of state constitutions

States may provide more — though never less — protection for freedom of expression than the First Amendment in the federal Bill of Rights.

First Amendment Commentary |

Significant solitary dissents in First Amendment law

Even solo dissents in Supreme Court cases matter, and sometimes history views the dissenter as the one who was right.

First Amendment Commentary |

Civic education, First Amendment on display at competition

Students in the Center for Civic Education’s 25th annual We The People national finals display nuanced understanding of First Amendment freedoms.

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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.