Freedom of Speech
Definition
A principle enshrined in First Amendment which allows individuals express their opinions without fear of governmental retaliation or censorship.
Analogy
Imagine Freedom of Speech as an open mic night at a café – anyone can get up on stage and say what they want without being stopped (as long as it doesn't incite violence or cause harm to others).
Related terms
Censorship: The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Slander: The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.
Libel: A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
"Freedom of Speech" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (20)
Which case first applied the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to protect freedom of speech and press?
How does the evolution of Supreme Court interpretations on freedom of speech reflect changing societal values?
Which amendment protects the freedom of speech?
Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech?
Which amendment to the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech?
Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition?
Why has the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech remained a fundamental aspect of American democracy?
What amendment to the United States Constitution protects freedom of speech and religion?
Under what circumstances can limitations be placed on Freedom of Speech according to Supreme Court decisions?
What is a direct impact of the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech?
What factor has contributed most significantly to maintaining freedom of speech as an integral part of American democracy?
In which scenario is a citizen's right to freedom of speech limited under the First Amendment?
Which court case restricted the First Amendment right to freedom of speech during wartime?
Which Supreme Court case expanded the interpretation of freedom of speech in the First Amendment to incorporate symbolic forms?
How might the US legal landscape look today if the Supreme Court had ruled against freedom of speech in the Schenck v. United States case?
What is a recurring trend seen in the application of the First Amendment concerning freedom of speech?
Why has the First Amendment, protecting freedom of speech and expression, continued to be a central aspect of American democracy?
Which Supreme Court case first applied selective incorporation with respect to freedom of speech?
How might the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech impact future politics concerning hate speech regulation?
How do attitudes towards freedom of speech reflected in current opinion polls compare with those displayed after World War II?
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