Browse the Constitution Annotated

First Amendment 

• 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.

• Amdt1.1 The Religion Clauses
  • Amdt1.1.1  The Religion Clauses: Historical Background
  • Amdt1.1.2 Establishment Clause
    • Amdt1.1.2.1 Establishment Clause: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.1.2.1.1 Current Establishment Clause Issues
        • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.1 Financial Assistance to Religion
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.1.1  Financial Assistance to Church-Related Institutions
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.1.2  Tax Exemptions of Religious Property
        • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2 Non-Financial Assistance to Religion
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.1  Governmental Encouragement of Religion in Public Schools: Released Time
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.2  Governmental Encouragement of Religion in Public Schools: Prayers and Bible Reading
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.3  Governmental Encouragement of Religion in Public Schools: Curriculum Restriction
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.4  Access of Religious Groups to Public Property
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.5  Exemption of Religious Organizations from Generally Applicable Laws
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.6  Sunday Closing Laws
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.7  Conscientious Objection
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.8  Regulation of Religious Solicitation
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.9  Religion in Governmental Observances
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.10  Religious Displays on Government Property
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.11  Non-Financial Assistance to Religion: Trump v. Hawaii
          • Amdt1.1.2.1.1.2.12  Non-Financial Assistance to Religion: Miscellaneous
  • Amdt1.1.3  Relationship Between Establishment Clause and Free Speech Clause
  • Amdt1.1.4 Free Exercise Clause
    • Amdt1.1.4.1  Free Exercise Clause: Overview
    • Amdt1.1.4.2 Free Exercise Clause: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.1.4.2.1 Facially Neutral Laws that Interfere With Religious Practice
        • Amdt1.1.4.2.1.1  Facially Neutral Laws that Interfere With Religious Practice: Early Doctrine
        • Amdt1.1.4.2.1.2  Facially Neutral Laws that Interfere With Religious Practice: Doctrine during 1960s through 1980s
        • Amdt1.1.4.2.1.3  Facially Neutral Laws that Interfere With Religious Practice: Current Doctrine
      • Amdt1.1.4.2.2  Laws That Require Government Involvement in Resolving Religious Disputes
      • Amdt1.1.4.2.3  Laws that Facially Discriminate Against Religious Practices
• Amdt1.2 Freedom of Speech
  • Amdt1.2.1  Freedom of Speech: Historical Background
  • Amdt1.2.2 Procedural Matters and Freedom of Speech
    • Amdt1.2.2.1  Procedural Matters and Freedom of Speech: Overbreadth
    • Amdt1.2.2.2  Procedural Matters and Freedom of Speech: Vagueness
    • Amdt1.2.2.3  Procedural Matters and Freedom of Speech: Prior Restraints
    • Amdt1.2.2.4  Procedural Matters and Freedom of Speech: State Action
  • Amdt1.2.3 Categorical Approach
    • Amdt1.2.3.1 Advocacy of Illegal Conduct
      • Amdt1.2.3.1.1  Advocacy of Illegal Conduct: Overview
      • Amdt1.2.3.1.2 Advocacy of Illegal Conduct: Doctrine and Practice
        • Amdt1.2.3.1.2.1  Advocacy of Illegal Conduct: Early Doctrine
        • Amdt1.2.3.1.2.2  Advocacy of Illegal Conduct: Movement from Clear and Present Danger Test
        • Amdt1.2.3.1.2.3  Advocacy of Illegal Conduct: Current Doctrine
    • Amdt1.2.3.2 Fighting Words, Hostile Audiences and True Threats
      • Amdt1.2.3.2.1  Fighting Words, Hostile Audiences and True Threats: Overview
    • Amdt1.2.3.3 Defamation and False Statements
      • Amdt1.2.3.3.1  Defamation and False Statements: Overview
      • Amdt1.2.3.3.2 Defamation and False Statements: Select Topics for Consideration
        • Amdt1.2.3.3.2.1  Invasions of Privacy
    • Amdt1.2.3.4 Obscenity
      • Amdt1.2.3.4.1  Obscenity: Overview
      • Amdt1.2.3.4.2 Obscenity: Select Topics for Consideration
        • Amdt1.2.3.4.2.1  Zoning Decisions
        • Amdt1.2.3.4.2.2  Child Pornography
        • Amdt1.2.3.4.2.3  Public Indecency and Nudity
    • Amdt1.2.3.5 Commercial Speech
      • Amdt1.2.3.5.1  Commercial Speech: Overview
  • Amdt1.2.4 Content Based and Content Neutral Regulation of Speech
    • Amdt1.2.4.1 Content Based and Content Neutral Regulation of Speech: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.2.4.1.1  Content Based Regulation
  • Amdt1.2.5 Viewpoint Based Discrimination
    • Amdt1.2.5.1  Viewpoint Based Discrimination: Overview
  • Amdt1.2.6 Government-Owned Property
    • Amdt1.2.6.1 Government-Owned Property: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.2.6.1.1  Government-Owned Property: Early Doctrine
  • Amdt1.2.7 Government-Owned Property
    • Amdt1.2.7.1 Government-Owned Property: Select Topics for Consideration
      • Amdt1.2.7.1.1  Government Speech Doctrine
  • Amdt1.2.8 Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government
    • Amdt1.2.8.1  Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government: Overview
    • Amdt1.2.8.2 Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.2.8.2.1  Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government: Government as Employer
      • Amdt1.2.8.2.2  Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government: Government as Educator
      • Amdt1.2.8.2.3  Freedom of Speech and the Role of the Government: Government as Imprisoner
  • Amdt1.2.9 Regulation of the Media
    • Amdt1.2.9.1  Regulation of the Media: Overview
  • Amdt1.2.10 Political Speech
    • Amdt1.2.10.1 Political Speech: Select Topics for Consideration
      • Amdt1.2.10.1.1  Campaign Finance and Electoral Process
      • Amdt1.2.10.1.2  Lobbying
      • Amdt1.2.10.1.3  Legislative Investigations
  • Amdt1.2.11 Compelled Speech
    • Amdt1.2.11.1  Compelled Speech: Overview
    • Amdt1.2.11.2 Compelled Speech: Select Topics for Consideration
      • Amdt1.2.11.2.1  Compelled Subsidization Doctrine
      • Amdt1.2.11.2.2  Unconstitutional Conditions
  • Amdt1.2.12 Symbolic Speech
    • Amdt1.2.12.1  Symbolic Speech: Overview
    • Amdt1.2.12.2 Symbolic Speech: Doctrine and Practice
      • Amdt1.2.12.2.1  Doctrine and Practice of Symbolic Speech: Overview
      • Amdt1.2.12.2.2  Symbolic Speech: Current Doctrine
    • Amdt1.2.12.3 Symbolic Speech: Select Topics for Consideration
      • Amdt1.2.12.3.1  Solicitation
      • Amdt1.2.12.3.2  Protests and Marches
  • Amdt1.2.13 Freedom of Association
    • Amdt1.2.13.1  Freedom of Association: Overview
• Amdt1.3 Freedom of Press
  • Amdt1.3.1  Freedom of Press: Overview
  • Amdt1.3.2 Freedom of Press: Select Topics for Consideration
    • Amdt1.3.2.1  Protection of Confidential Sources
    • Amdt1.3.2.2  Right to Access Government Places and Papers
• Amdt1.4 Freedom of Assembly and Petition
  • Amdt1.4.1  Freedom of Assembly and Petition: Overview