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Freedom of speech and expression has a long history that predates modern international human rights instruments. [4] It is thought that the ancient Athenian democratic principle of free speech may have emerged in the late 6th or early 5th century BC. [5] Freedom of speech was vindicated by Erasmus and Milton. [4]
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents Congress from making laws respecting an establishment of religion; prohibiting the free exercise of religion; or abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.
During colonial times, English speech regulations were rather restrictive.The English criminal common law of seditious libel made criticizing the government a crime. Lord Chief Justice John Holt, writing in 1704–1705, explained the rationale for the prohibition: "For it is very necessary for all governments that the people should have a good opinion of it."
Ronald Reagan was especially fond of this phrase, as he quoted it at least 50 times in various speeches and writings. [9] Reagan first quoted it in his 1964 "A Time for Choosing" speech. [10] He also alluded to it in four of his State of the Union Addresses (1981, [11] 1982, [12] 1984, [13] and 1987 [14]) as well as his Second Inaugural Address ...
"It was not by accident or coincidence that the rights to freedom in speech and press were coupled in a single guaranty with the rights of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition for redress of grievances." Thomas, 323 U. S., at 530. Both speech and petition are integral to the democratic process, although not necessarily in the same way.
The First Amendment restricts Congress from hindering “the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress ...
Many countries have constitutional law that protects free speech. Terms like free speech, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression are used interchangeably in political discourse. However, in a legal sense, the freedom of expression includes any activity of seeking, receiving, and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
Freedom of speech is always the tool for the powerless. If you don’t have power, all you have is your voice. So if you are pushing for censorship, you are tacitly acknowledging that you have ...