8.2.5 First Amendment

When could our First Amendment rights be limited?

Select ALL that apply.

• In a school

• During a protest

• When someone incites a riot or violence

• During a meeting of a social club

The first Amendment of the Constitution prohibits a state from taking which action?

• making it illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays

• providing funds to pay teachers working at a Jewish school

• regulating church-affiliated hospitals the same way as other hospitals

• requiring religious schools to use state-approved mathematics textbooks

". . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

This clause in the Constitution was based on which idea?

• Church and state should be kept separate.

• All citizens are free to run for elected office.

• Public officials cannot openly express their religious beliefs.

• Elected representatives must follow their constituents’ faith and values.

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and—as it did here—inflict great pain.

On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a Nation we have chosen a different course—to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."

Based on the excerpt, what was the impact of this Supreme Court ruling?

• It limited First Amendment guarantees to cover purely political speech.

• It gave the government new powers to limit speech to protect the public from harm.

• It granted constitutional protection to groups that were planning a violent revolution.

• It strengthened First Amendment protections for the expression of unpopular opinions.

What scenario would a court most likely not support?

• A boy wears a shirt to school protesting a government decision.

• A group organizes a meeting to discuss controversial political issues.

• A politician gives a speech encouraging citizens to spy for another country.

• A girl displays a poster outside of a circus criticizing mistreatment of the animals.

Which action is an example of a constitutionally protected form of petitioning the government?

• writing a newspaper editorial about unnecessary health-care and defense spending

• putting a lawn sign on one’s property showing support for a presidential candidate

• sending an email to family and friends complaining about incompetent bureaucrats

• mailing a letter to a prominent business person urging him or her to run for the legislature

A group of concerned citizens gathered outside the local City Hall to protest a recent decision to allow a gas station to be built on land that was intended for a new community park. The mayor came outside and informed the citizens that the decision was final and could not be changed. A man in the crowd did not like that answer and shouted to the group, “If they won’t give us what we want, let’s destroy this building!” Other members of the group then began picking up rocks and throwing them at the windows of City Hall.

Which statement best describes whether the man’s statement to the crowd is protected under the U.S. Constitution?

• The statement is protected because freedom of speech is an unlimited right.

• The statement is not protected because freedom of speech does not extend to calling for a riot.

• The statement is protected because freedom of assembly means his actions are protected.

• The statement is not protected because freedom of speech is limited when citizens criticize the government.

Which scenario involves a violation of a U.S. citizen’s constitutional rights?

• A citizen is jailed for urging others to start a riot that damages property.

• A person is arrested for refusing to testify as a witness at someone else’s trial.

• Roommates are detained by the police for refusing a warrant to search their residence.

• Members of an interest group are fined for organizing a protest march at their city hall.

Which right or freedom allows people to participate in town hall meetings?

• freedom of the press

• right to petition

• freedom of association

• freedom of religion

The Lemon Test was a precedent set by a 1974 Supreme Court case to evaluate cases involving Freedom of Religion and the Establishment clause in schools.

What recent Supreme Court case decision resulted in an updated precedent for Freedom of Religion in schools?

• Engel v Vitale

• Kennedy v Bremerton

• Santa Fe Independent School District v Doe

• West Virginia v Barnette