Publications

Printed copies of First Amendment Center publications are available free (unless otherwise noted) while supplies last. Order copies online or via e-mail to puborder@freedomforum.org. Please use the item numbers listed in parentheses below. If there is no item number, then the publication is not available in print. Be sure to include your postal mailing address. Or use the pdfs linked below.

State of the First Amendment survey reports

First Reports

The FCC’s Regulation of Indecency, by Lili Levi (207.07 FAC)

Implementing a Flag-Desecration Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, by Robert Corn-Revere (013-F05-FAC)

Student Expression in the Age of Columbine: Securing Safety and Protecting First Amendment Rights, by David L. Hudson Jr. (129.05-FAC)

Internet Filters and Public Libraries, by David L. Sobel (03-F11)

Balancing Act: Public Employees and Free Speech, by David. L. Hudson Jr. (02-F04)

Adult Entertainment and the Secondary-Effects Doctrine (02-F03)

Money Talks: Campaign-Finance Reform and the First Amendment, by Tony Mauro (00-F05)

Government Secrecy vs. Freedom of the Press, by Geoffrey R. Stone (130.06-FAC)

The Privacy Problem: A broader view of information privacy and the costs and consequences of protecting it, by Fred H. Cate (03-F01)

Partnership or Peril? Faith-Based Initiatives and the First Amendment, by Oliver Thomas (01-F06)

Religion in American History: What to Teach and How, by Charles C. Haynes (1991-F01)

Different Wars, Similar Fears (04-F05)

Other publications

Speech

The Silencing of Student Voices: Preserving Free Speech in America’s Schools, by David L. Hudson Jr. (Printed book available from Amazon.com.) Introduction Pages 1-35 Pages 36-76 Pages 77-100

Free Speech and Music (01-F03)

Violence and the Media (01-F01)

Online symposium: Cyberbullying & Public Schools

Copyright & the First Amendment, by David L. Hudson Jr.

Telephone-harassment statutes, by Josh Tatum

Religion

What is the Truth about American Muslims? Questions and Answers

Harassment, Bullying and Free Expression: Guidelines for Free and Safe Public Schools

Finding Common Ground (2007 revised version)

A Parent’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools (215.07-FAC, English; 00-F02, Spanish)

A Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools (085.10-FAC)

The Bible and Public Schools (99-F03)

Teaching About Religion in American Life: a First Amendment Guide (98-F05)

Living With Our Deepest Differences, school curriculum

A Discussion Guide to First Freedoms: A Documentary History of First Amendment Rights in America, by Laura Billings and Terry Roberts, published by Oxford University Press in collaboration with First Amendment Center

Public Schools & Religious Communities (99-F02 (b) )

Learning about World Religions in Public Schools: the impact on student attitudes and community acceptance in Modesto, Calif., by Emile Lester and Patrick S. Roberts. A First Forum report (058.06-FAC)

The Future of Religious Freedom in America, report of joint conference by McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum and First Amendment Center, October 2005 (021.06-FAC)

Teaching About Religion in Public Schools: Where Do We Go from Here? Pew conference report with First Amendment Center (03-F14)

Taking Religion Seriously Across the Curriculum Preface /Introduction / Part 1 — The Frameworks: Ch. 1 – Civic, Constitutional / Ch. 2 – Educational / Part 2 — The Curriculum: Ch. 3 – Elementary Ed. / Ch. 4 – History / Ch. 5 – Civics, Economics / Ch. 6 – Literature, Arts / Ch. 7 – Sciences / Ch. 8 – Bible, World Religions / Ch. 9 – Moral Education / Conclusions / References / Index / Authors / Copyright Religious Liberty in American Life: Preparing Religious Leaders for Civic Engagement in the 21st Century, with Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Public Schools and Sexual Orientation: a First Amendment framework for finding common ground

Religious Liberty, Publication and the Future of American Democracy: A Statement of Principles (95-F07)

Teaching About Religion in National and State Social Studies Standards, by Council on Islamic Education, First Amendment Center (00-F06)

California 3rs: Finding Common Ground (01-F07)

Deities & Deadlines, a primer on religion-news coverage (93-F01)

Bridging the Gap: Religion and the News Media (93-F04: Rev. 3/00) The Law of Church and State in America, by Dean M. Kelley

Link:

Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public and Elementary Schools, U.S. Department of Education

Press / freedom of information

Freedom of Information in the Digital Age (03-F04)

Journalism and Terrorism: How the war on terrorism has changed American journalism (02-F08)

America’s Team: Media and the Military (95-F04)

Jailed & subpoenaed journalists — a historical timeline, by Gordon T. Belt

The Sedition Act of 1798, by Gordon T. Belt

The First Amendment in the Colonial press, by Gordon T. Belt

911 recordings, transcripts — state statutes

General

2009-10 Freedom Forum annual report

First Amendment Center fact sheet

First Amendment timeline

Your First Freedoms

Death By Cheeseburger: High School Journalism in the 1990s and Beyond (1994)

Worlds Apart: How the Distance Between Science and Journalism Threatens America’s Future (98-F02)

First Amendment posters:

24×31

11×14

8.5 x 11

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.