The First Amendment

 Write down the five freedoms granted by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Don’t cheat. Go off memory alone. 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.

For these notes you will do all of the following: 1.Ask questions if they arise 2.Be off of your cell phones, or other electronics. 3.Pay attention. 4.No, you may not “do them later.” If I see inactivity on your part, you lose points. 5.Clear you desks of ALL OBJECTS except for your paper and pen.

 The Five Freedoms 1. Religion 2. Speech 3. Press 4. Assembly 5. Petition  What do they mean? 1. Government cannot make laws enforcing or promoting religion; this includes religion over non-religion. 2. The government cannot restrict one’s ability to speak, or (except in special cases) restrict the content of said speech. 3. Cannot legislate the press 4. Cannot bar citizens from assembling, meeting, or protest in public spaces. 5. Must have a method to hear citizen’s complaints and grievances, addressing them according to the law.

 Religion  Government cannot set country’s religion  Can’t force someone to do something that violates their religion (work on Sabbath)  No posting of religious sayings by government  Speech  Political issues  Symbolic (armbands for example)  Signs: Picketing  Corporate: Ads/commercials -- although some limitations do exist.

 Press  Can be critical of government  Some states have shield laws that protect journalists  Press should be watchdog of government -- is independent from government  Assembly  You can rally in a public park (permit often required)  Government can regulate time, manner and place of rally  You can meet with people of choosing. Doesn’t have to be an open group unless it’s a government group.

 Petition  Can ask others to sign  Can appear before legislative body to ask for change in the law  What’s all this mean for you? As Americans, you have the right to express yourselves, the right to believe as you choose, and the right to be active in the fate of your nation.

Write down two things you learned today about the constitution and how it affects your life.