Be in the Know

Amendment I

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.

Freedom of Religion

Religious liberty is a cornerstone of our nation and is the very first freedom guaranteed to Americans by the Bill of Rights.

The government cannot make a law that gives a certain religions preference over other religions. For example, the government cannot allow public school funding for a Christian school club but not an Islamic one. Also, if a particular religion, let's say, practices polygamy or human or animal sacrifice, that would be illegal, since it's infringing on the rights of other humans and animals. So, essentially, freedom of religion exist as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others or break any established laws.

Freedom of Speech

This amendment also protects the rights of the people to peaceably assemble and political freedom of speech. Not all speech is protected under this amendment. Such actions as yelling "bomb" on a plane and inducing fear, panic, and provoking violence aren't protected.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental American freedom, and nowhere should it be more valued and protected than at America's colleges and universities. Students and faculty should not have to fear punishment for expressing views that might be unpopular. Yet this freedom is under continuous assault at many of America's campuses. Speech codes dictating what may or may not be said, "free speech zones" confining free speech to certain areas of campus, and administrative attempts to punish or repress speech on a case-by-case basis are common today in academia.

Freedom of Conscience

Liberty cannot exist in a society in which people are forced to conform their thoughts and expression to an official viewpoint. Differences of opinion are the natural byproducts of a vibrant, free society.

Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. - Thomas Jefferson