First Amendment

1
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.
2
First Amendment
1. Clear and present danger (cpd) 2.
Categorization 3. Hostile audience 4. Symbolic
speech 5. Free exercise of religion 6.
Establishment of religion
3
Rationales for free speech

• marketplace of ideas/search for truth
• democracy self-governance
• individual dignity, autonomy, self-fulfillment

4
Historical background

• English
• licensing (prior restraint)
• seditious libel
• truth not a defense
• bad tendency
• American
• Zengers Case (1735) juries
• Levy vs. Levy on framers intent
• 1791-1917

5
Clear present danger
Proximate cause
Bad tendency
6
Advocacy-incitement distinction
Hand in Masses Publ.
speech advocacy incitement act
Dennis