The Bill of Rights: The First Amendment

Chapter 4 Section 1

Vocabulary:• Civil Liberties – freedoms to think and act without

government interference

• Freedom of Religion – the right to practice any faith, government may not favor any faith over another

• Freedom of Speech – the right to say what is on one’s mind without fear of punishment by the government

• Freedom of Press- the right to express oneself in print, extended to all media

• Censorship – banning printed or filmed materials because they may be offensive

• Freedom of Assembly – the right to gather in groups

• Freedom of Petition- the right to request from the government

• Petition – a formal request, usually a specific kind of document with a statement and signatures of many citizens

Vocabulary (continued):

• Slander – hurting a person’s reputation with spoken lies

• Libel – hurting a person’s reputation with written lies

Vocabulary (continued):

1. What five basic freedoms does the first amendment protect?

1. Religion2. Speech3. Press4. Assembly5. Petition

2. What does freedom of religion prevent congress from establishing in the United States?

• An official religion of the United States

3. Who was Mary Beth Tinker? What was she famous for?

• A 13 year old student in 1965 who was suspended for wearing a black arm band to school in protest of the Vietnam War

• Her case made it all the way to the Supreme Court where they ruled that their arm bands were protected by the 1st amendment right of Freedom of Speech

• Stated that a student does not leave their rights when they enter school

4. What does freedom of the press ensure for Americans?

• That Americans will be exposed to a wide variety of viewpoints

5. Freedom of Assembly exists as long as the groups are _____.

Peaceful

6.Freedom of Assembly also applies to the ability for people to join what types of organizations?

• Social Groups, Political Parties, and Labor Unions

• This is Freedom of Association

7. Why do you think politicians would care about the right to petition?

• They need a way to be able to hear what the people want so that they can get reelected.

8. What are some ways that freedom of speech is limited?

• No person can bring danger to the government or other citizens

• No person can provoke a riot or violence

• No person can speak in a way that leads to criminal activity or overthrowing the government

• In school students may not interfere with someone’s right to learn

9. What does it mean for citizens to use their civil liberties responsibly?

• They may not interfere with the rights of others.

10. Why is unlimited freedom impossible?

• The rights of the person must balance with the rights of the community or society will fall apart.