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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.”

The 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”

The 1st Amendment guarantees freedoms regarding religion, assembly, expression, and the right to petition. It also forbids Congress from promoting one religion over another and restricting individuals from religious practices. It also ensures freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the rights of individuals and the press to speak freely. It also guarantees the citizen’s right to protest and petition their government peacefully.

Salient features of the 1st Amendment

Before accepting the Constitution, the Founders demanded an amendment to protect these freedoms.

There’s no legal age that one has to reach in order to exercise First Amendment Freedoms. They are guaranteed to everyone by birth. If you live in the U.S., you have freedom of press, speech, religion, assembly, and petition.

The First Amendment isn’t right-wing or left-wing. It is essential for political and social change and even for opposing change. The First Amendment is inclusive for all. The First Amendment safeguards citizens against government limits on the freedom of expression, but it cannot restrict a private employer from setting their own rules.

The First Amendment prevents the government from making you say something you don’t want to and also keeps you from reading or hearing the other’s words. Students are allowed to pray in public schools by ensuring they don’t disrupt the school’s operations, and no employee is involved.

This was a brief overview. Now, let’s dive deep into the details:

Freedom of Religion

The freedom to practice any religion one wants, without any interference from the government, is one of the primary principles of the United States. It might come as a surprise that this right was not included in the Constitution. Instead, it was added to the First Amendment in 1971. Given the sentiments for religion for many, it has become a complex area of law. The freedom of religion provided by the 1st Amendment can be divided into the free exercise and establishment clauses. The Establishment Clause prevents the U.S. government from preferring one religion over another and establishing a national religion. The federal government prohibits interfering with an individual’s. According to the free exercise clause, individuals have the right to practice their religion.

Freedom of Press

Freedom of the press is one of the most significant constitutional guarantees. It rears the free media as a watchdog for the government and keeps government controls at bay.

Freedom of Assembly and Petition

Although the essential rights of the First Amendment are incredibly popular, the least overlooked freedoms among them are the rights to assembly and petition. These rights are a critical cornerstone of the democratic process, which helps govern the country. Without the right to assemble in a protest and petition the government, the history of the U.S. would’ve been far different from what it is.

Freedom of Association

The Supreme Court has long held the First Amendment protects free speech and assembly, and freedom of association is an extension of this freedom clause. This means everyone has the freedom to associate with people with mutual political, cultural, and religious beliefs.

The First Amendment guaranteed the human rights of U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, many U.S. citizens, to this day, face discrimination based on their beliefs. And the law enforcement fails to provide the community with a safe environment. James Buie, in his book From the Ground Up, has devised various strategies and steps that are required to bring change, harmonize society, and guarantee the rights of their fellow citizens.

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