1st 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.
Establishment of religion
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a national religion by Congress or the preference of one religion over another, or religion over non-religion.
Free exercise of religion
The Warren Court held that this meant governments must have a compelling interest before passing a law that unduly burdens the practice of religion.
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. The right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments.
Freedom of press
Freedom of the press, like freedom of speech, is subject to restrictions on bases such as defamation law. Restrictions, however, have been struck down if they are aimed at the political message or content of newspapers.
Right to petition
The right to petition the government has been interpreted as extending to petitions of all three branches: the Congress, the executive and the judiciary.
Right to assemble
The right of assembly was originally closely tied to the right to petition. One significant case involving the two rights was United States vs. Cruikshank (1876). There, the Supreme Court held that citizens may "assemble for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a redress of grievances."
