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Revision as of 19:49, 6 October 2003
Amendment I (the First Amendment) of the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights. It states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Thus, it prevents the United States Congress from passing any law which:
- establishes a religion
- restricts religious freedom
- restricts free speech
- restricts the freedom of the press
- restricts the right of the people to demonstrate against the government
The consequences of this Amendment to American society have been profound. First Amendment questions have been raised with regard to the separation of church and state; civil rights issues; pornography and obscenity; political speech and organizations; journalism and its restrictions; involuntary commitment laws; and many more.
See also: freedom of assembly, antidisestablishmentarianism, establishment of religion, civil religion, Lemon test