Chapter 3A Look at the Constitution

The First AmendmentSmith 51-54

Today’s Agenda

• 3.3 Slide show • Homework– Are there other limits? What if free speech offends

the religious beliefs of others? – Write a paragraph in which you answer the above

question.• Missing Grades for Chapter 1 Test• Kat, Zach, Gvantsa, Jamie, Shahar• Missing Constitutional Scavenger Hunt from a few

Let’s Review

• What is the supreme law of our land?• Who is the main author of the Constitution?• What is the name for the 1st 10 Amendments?• What are the 5 freedoms guaranteed in the 1st

Amendment?• Are there limits to free speech?• What is slander?• What is “clear and present danger”?

Should the Westboro Baptist Church members be allowed to protest this way?

The First Amendment• Lists 5

Freedoms1. Speech2. Press3. Religion4. Assembly5. Petition

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

What does freedom of speech mean?• People can…

– State their political beliefs– Peacefully protest– State negative facts about someone– Make racist remarks– Use expressive gestures

• Sit during pledge of allegiance, Burn flag, Write lyrics critical of government

• People cannot– Create a Clear and Present Danger

• Put the public in danger– Yelling “Fire” in crowded theater

– Harass or make threats– Commit slander

• Untruthful spoken words that harm a person’s reputation

– Use obscenities in public forum

Does free speech extend to schools?1:20-1:40

What does freedom of the press mean?

• The Press can– Print any political

position– Satirize people,

politicians– Expose wrongdoings

of government• The Press cannot– Commit libel• Untruthful written

words that harm a person’s reputation

Actor Tom Cruise has settled a $50 million defamation suit he filed last year against a tabloid publisher after it ran stories accusing him of having "abandoned" his daughter Suri during his divorce from her mother, actress Katie Holmes.

What does freedom of religion mean?• The Government cannot– Set a state religion– Order prayer in school– Create laws that help or harm religion– Teach religious doctrine in school– Known as “separation of church and

state”• People can– Choose and practice their religion– Celebrate its holidays

• People cannot– Break law and claim religious belief– Raise children without education– Deprive children of basic needs

What is freedom of assembly?

• People can– Protest (with a permit– Parade (with a permit)• Can use hate slogans

– Congregate in public• People cannot– Protest using violence– Loiter• Hang out on private land

against owners will• Break teen curfew• Incite a riot– Calling a police

officer “pig”

Are there other limits? What if free speech offends the religious beliefs of others?