Bill of Rights: First Amendment

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights

Freedoms of Expression

Directions

1. Read the slides carefully

2. Answer the questions. Go back and reread if needed

3. If you get an answer wrong, go back and read the previous slide/s to make sure you understand

4. The timer will not increase your score. The only thing that will help your score is accuracy

The First Amendment

• The First Amendment lists all of the freedoms of self-expression

• There are 5 freedoms listed in the first amendment:

• Freedom of Speech

• Freedom of the Press

• Freedom of Assembly

• Freedom to Petition

• Freedom of Religion

Freedom of Speech

• Freedom of Speech protects you from being arrested for what you say

• The Freedom of Speech does not mean freedom from social consequences

• For example, what you say could get you in trouble in school or with your parents, cause you to lose friends, or fired from a job

• The main goal of this freedom is to allow you to criticize the government without punishment. In many other countries people don't have this freedom

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the freedom of speech

• a right to say what you think without any consequences

• a right to say what you want without consequences from the government

• a right to say what you want as long as it doesn't offend others

• a right to speak your mind in private

Limitations on Freedom of Speech

• There are some limitations on this right, and some examples in which you can be punished by the government for what you say such as:

• Saying something threatening or dangerous

• Intentionally lying in a way that hurts someones reputation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would NOT be protected by the freedom of speech and could result in you being arrested?

• criticizing the President for how he acts and looks

• Saying that you have a bomb while boarding a plane

• Writing an opinion article about why you think a Supreme Court Justice should be imepached

• Writing a letter to your representative saying that you hope they lose their job

Freedom of the Press

• Freedom of the press protects the speech, writing and reporting of news including news on tv, internet, newspapers, and social media

• The government cannot censor what the press (news) says or prints

• There is one exception to this freedom: the press cannot intentionally tell lies to hurt someone's reputation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of freedom of the press?

• A student expressing their opinion to a teacher

• A Netflix tv series reenacting an event from history

• A tv newscaster reporting on a president's impeachment trial

• An protest against the results of an election

Freedom to Petition

• This freedom allows people to ask for changes or complain about the government's actions

• Citizens can write petitions or letters requesting a changes in laws or government actions

• It also allows citizens to sue the government

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of freedom of petition?

• voting for President

• writing to a representative asking them to repeal a law

• speaking your mind to your boss about changing the rules of the workplace

• boycotting a business

Freedom of Assembly

• To assemble is to gather in a group.

• Freedom of assembly protects your right to join groups, clubs or political parties, even if they criticize the government or share unpopular views

• It also protects your right to peacefully protest

• This right does not allow people the right to riot, destroy property, harm others, or use violence

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of freedom of assembly?

• A peaceful protest

• A riot

• A petition to a government leader

• Voting in an election

Freedom of Religion

• Freedom of religion prevents the government from creating laws that favor any religion

• In addition, it protects people's right to worship how they choose

Multiple Choice

How does the freedom of religion protect citizens?

• It allows the government to establish religious practices for citizens

• It allows people to worship how they choose

• It prevents people from expressing their religious beliefs in public

• It states that everyone must choose a religion, but it doesn't matter which religion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a freedom listed in the First Amendment?

• Freedom of Speech

• Freedom of Religion

• Freedom of the Press

• Freedom to vote

• Freedom of assembly