First Principles

1
First Principles

• The First Amendment affirms the freedom of the
  individual.
• Free expression is the foundation the
  cornerstone of democracy.
• The First Amendment tells the government to keep
  its hands off our religion, our ideas, our
  ability to express ourselves.
• Other people have rights, too.
• When rights collide, government must balance
  them.
• The First Amendment helps us make choices.

2
The 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.

3
The First Amendment the States

• 1791 Congress shall make no law . . .
• 1925 Gitlow v. New York First Amendment
  applies to states via Fourteenth Amendment
• 14th Amendment, Section 1 No State shall make
  or enforce any law which shall abridge the
  privileges and immunities of citizens of the
  United States nor shall any state deprive any
  person of life, liberty, or property, without due
  process of law nor deny to any person within its
  jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

4
The First Amendment?

• Citizens have freedom of speech in keeping with
  the goals of the socialist society.
• Cuban Constitution
• (Article 52)

5
The Three Rs of the First Amendment

• Rights -- Individual (Each of us is born with
  certain inalienable rights)
• Responsibilities -- Mutual (Each of us must
  accept the responsibility to guard the rights of
  others -- especially those with whom we most
  deeply disagree)
• Respect -- Universal (Each of us must commit to
  debate out differences with respect)