OBJECTIVES:
 COMPARE and CONTRAST federal
and state court systems
 LIST and EXPLAIN the differences
between criminal and civil cases
 DESCRIBE the basic structure of the
Supreme Court
 SUMMARIZE Supreme Court
decisions
 WRITE a legal brief from a Supreme
Court case
April 28
Review
Moot Court
Notes/discussion over religion and
freedom of speech
Article
Chapter 20 Vocabulary
 In deciding cases involving laws
against sedition, the Supreme Court
has developed the ___________ rule.
 Laws against seditious speech have
been upheld by the Courts if they urge
people to _____________________.
 The __________ sets up the separation
between church and state.
US GOVERNMENT
The Judicial Branch Notes
First Amendment Freedoms
The Media
Argue that they must have the right
to refuse to testify in court. This is
intended to protect sources and
assure confidentiality.
State and Federal courts have
rejected the media argument.
Thirty states have passed Shield
Laws.
Branzburg v. Hayes, 1972–
Reporters must respond to relevant
questions in a grand jury
investigation or criminal trial.
Any special exemptions must come
from Congress and the State
Legislatures.
Freedom of Assembly
The 1st and 14th Amendments
protect the right of people to
peacefully assemble.
It does not give people the right to
incite violence, block a public
street, close a school, endanger
life, property, or public order.
Government can make and enforce
reasonable rules covering time,
place, and manner of assemblies.
Government’s rules must be
content neutral, they cannot
regulate assemblies on the basis of
what might be said there.
The Courts have upheld laws that
require advance notice and permits
for demonstration in public places.
Gregory v. Chicago, 1969
What was the decision of the
Court?
The rights of assembly and petition
do not give people a right to
trespass on private property, even
if they wish to express political
views.
Freedom of Association
 Freedom of assembly and petition also
include the right of association with
others to promote political, economic,
and other social changes.
 Example: A State cannot force an
organization to accept members when
their action would contradict what the
organization professes to believe.