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Free Speech
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Free Speech Concepts
The big picture: What you need to know and why.
From Deep Throat to Bong Hits 4 Jesus
The First Amendment protects free speech, but some types of speech are given greater protection than othersCourts have granted political speech the greatest protection under the First AmendmentCour...
Roots of Free Speech Laws
In British common law, "free speech" was defined as no "prior restraint"; that is, people were free to say whatever they wanted, but they could then be prosecuted for sedition or seditious libelIn...
Writing the First Amendment
After 1787 Constitutional Convention, Anti-Federalist complained that the new Constitution had no Bill of RightsBill of Rights passed as Amendments 1-10 in 1791First Amendment contained guarantee o...
The Sedition Act
1798 Sedition Act passed by Federalist-dominated Congress mainly to silence opposition newspapersSedition Act allowed truth as a defense, required trial by juryBut Republican opponents argued the a...
