Amendment 1

Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression

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.

Vocabulary:

• abridging: reducing, lessening

• assemble: to come or bring together into a group

• Congress: the law making or legislative branch of the federal government

• establishment: the act of putting in place or starting officially

• Establishment Clause: the part of the First Amendment that forbids the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion. (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...

• Free Exercise Clause: the part of the First Amendment that allows citizens to practice the religion of their choice freely. (Congress shall make no law... prohibiting the free exercise there.)

• grievance: the act of harming someone resulting in bad feelings

• petition: to ask

• prohibiting: forbidding, not allowing

• redress: something to make up for loss or damage

Try the Amendment 1 Vocabulary Quiz

Rewrite Amendment 1 in your own words in the space below. Print it out and give it to your instructor or teacher or copy and paste it into an e-mail to send him/her.

Freedom of Speech:

The First Amendment allows citizens to say what they wish without fear of being punished.

Freedom of the Press:

This means that organizations that publish newspapers, movies, radio and television shows, websites, etc. also have freedom to print what they wish without fear of punishment.

Freedom of Religion:

Citizens are free to practice the religion of their choice or to not practice any religion. The government cannot force citizens to practice a certain religion.

Discussion Questions:

1. What boundaries should there be with freedom of speech, including all parts of the media (movies, Internet, television, etc.)?

2. Sometimes the free exercise of religion and the establishment of religion come in conflict - for example, if a student or teacher wishes to put up displays or distribute religious literature in the public schools which are supported with public funds. What do you feel the limits should be on such activities - or if there should be any limits at all?

3. What should the limits be as far as people assembling - time, place, number?

4. What obligation do our representatives have as far as responding to our petitions or input to them - letters, phone calls, e-mails, etc.?