Freedom of Speech and Press: Exceptions to the First Amendment

[摘要] The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “Congressshall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. . . .” Thislanguage restricts government both more and less than it would if it were appliedliterally. It restricts government more in that it applies not only to Congress, but toall branches of the federal government, and to all branches of state and localgovernment. It restricts government less in that it provides no protection to sometypes of speech and only limited protection to others.This report provides an overview of the major exceptions to the FirstAmendment — of the ways that the Supreme Court has interpreted the guarantee offreedom of speech and press to provide no protection or only limited protection forsome types of speech.

[发布日期] 2002-11-20 [发布机构] Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

[关键词] Civil liberties;Constitutional amendments - U.S. - 1;Freedom of the press;Freedom of speech;Constitution