The First 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.
- The First Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution
After the U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, the Framers
adopted the Bill of Rights. The first freedoms guaranteed in this
historic document were articulated in the 45 words we have come to know
as the First Amendment.
The First Amendment is our blueprint for personal freedom and the
hallmark of an open society. It protects freedom of speech, press,
religion, assembly and petition.
A free press informs the people and serves as their mouthpiece; its value
to our democracy cannot be overstated. Media access is key to having an open
government and a free society. The First Amendment is key to ensuring
this access and allowing all voices to be heard.
Nevertheless, press freedoms are routinely challenged both by the denial
by government of access to public records and proceedings and the
placement of restrictions on what may be published. Unfortunately,
individual journalists and the general public are often unaware of their
rights and without resources to turn back these challenges. Thus, the
ideal of the free press is too often unfulfilled.
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