The First Amendment!
Test your 1st Amendment Knowledge
• http://www.splc.org/quiz/quiz2.asp
• How did you do on the quiz?
• Which questions surprised you?
• Why?
1st Amendment
• 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.
— The First Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution
1st Amendment Simplified
• Each citizen has the right to the freedom of
– religion
– speech
– press
– assembly
– petitioning the government.
Discussion Questions
• How are our First Amendment freedoms
limited?
• Why aren’t they absolute?
• Why do you think these freedoms are central
to our republic?
• Do you think it’s important to be aware of the
freedoms afforded by the First Amendment?
• Why?
Focus: Freedom of Speech and Press
• What do you think constitutes the “press”?
– What counts?
– What doesn’t?
• What is journalism?
– What are its goals?
– What makes someone a journalist?
– What makes something a journalistic enterprise?
– What ethical and legal responsibilities does the
press have?
Brainstorm: What are different ways
that young people can express
themselves online?
Now consider a court ruling about a
blogger and the 1st Amendment…
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/busine
ss/media/when-truth-survives-freespeech.html?_r=0
Discussion Questions
1. What did the story of Crystal Cox look like “on the
surface”? What made Mr. Carr realize it was more
complicated?
2. Who did the law ultimately protect in this case? Do you
think this was a fair ruling? Why or why not?
3. What questions about freedom of speech does this story
raise for you?
4. How might the case of Crystal Cox apply to how teenagers
use the Internet to talk about others?
5. What do you think about Ms. Cox’s tactics, as
characterized by Mr. Carr? What do you believe would be
a fair and just way to resolve this issue? Why is this the
best approach?
Your assignment:
• You will now create primers about legal rights
and responsibilities for young people who
express themselves online, in blogs and other
forums.
• We will combine your primers into an online
resource that students can use to understand
their rights and responsibilities on the
internet.
Primer Topics:
• An overview of how the First Amendment applies to under-18’s
(minors)
• A roundup of relevant cases
• Libel law (printing things that are false)
• Privacy Invasion
• “Cyberlaw”
• Copyright law
• Obscene material
• Distribution
• Access to records
• Censorship
• Expert opinions
• Online safety
Primer Requirements:
Remember make your presentation relevant to teenage internet users!
1. Overview of key information students need to know
about the law (your topic)
2. An example of unprotected speech for your topic
3. Legal arguments for why this speech is unprotected
4. And example of protect speech for your topic
5. Legal arguments for why this speech is protected.
6. Tips for teenagers: “do’s” and “don’ts.”
7. Cite sources
Suggested Resources
• Times Topic Pages:
– First Amendment
– Freedom of Speech and Expression
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Student Press Law Center
1 for All
First Amendment Center
http://mrkellyshistory.weebly.com/news.html
Final Discussion Questions
• Do restrictions to speech give democracy power,
too?
• Remember Crystal Cox story:
• Who do our laws protect in cases like these?
• Who do they not protect?
• Are our laws fair? Why or why not?
• How might teenagers behave differently online if
they were better informed about the First
Amendment – the rights it provides, the
responsibilities it entails and the limits it has?