First Amendment

The First Amendment became part of the U.S. Constitution more than 225 years ago. This is what it says: “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.”

Based on your own feelings about the First Amendment, please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: The First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees.

• Agree

• Disagree

It is important for our democracy that the news media act as a watchdog on government.

• Agree

• Disagree

Overall, the news media tries to report the news without bias.

• Agree

• Disagree

Do you feel that the freedom to worship as one chooses applies to all religious groups regardless of how extreme or on‐the‐fringe their views are, or was it never meant to apply to religious groups that most people would consider extreme or fringe?

• Applies to all groups

• Never applied to extreme/fringe groups

• Don’t know

• I'm not answering this one

In general, I prefer news information from outlets that are aligned with my own views.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not answering this

Elected officials should be able to determine which media outlets are able to attend public briefings.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not answering this

People should be allowed to express racist views on social media.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not going to answer this

Those who leak classified government information should be prosecuted even if the information is found to serve the public interest.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not answering this

Journalists should be free to publish classified information that was obtained illegally by someone else.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not answering this

Colleges or universities should be able to forbid people from speaking on campus who have a history of provoking extreme opposition.

• Strongly agree

• Somewhat agree

• Somewhat disagree

• Strongly disagree

• I'm not answering this