Quote:
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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.
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Freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and to petition the government.
The first five rights protected by the Bill of Rights have seen numerous court decisions as the government vs. the people have hashed out what is and is not constitutional. Issues like the 'establishment' clause (or the separation of church and state, free speech vs. the alien and sedition acts, freedom of the press vs. libel and slander, freedom of petition and assembly vs. the supremacy clause.
The constitution is a document that issues powers to the government, powers that come from the people, so how far do we let government gag free speech, or block free press, or create free speech zones?
Is the 'right of the people' defined as an individual right to petition for redress of grievance or is it a collective right of the state to petition the federal government?
Does the prohibition of anything 'christian' or religion conform strictly to the establishment clause?
How far does 'free speech' allow the people to say things?