Preview

Article 16 of the Bill of Rights protects the freedom of opinion and expression of everyone.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2225 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Article 16 of the Bill of Rights protects the freedom of opinion and expression of everyone.
Question One
a)
Article 16 of the Bill of Rights protects the freedom of opinion and expression of everyone. Also according to the Article 27 of the Basic Law, “Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike.” This means that the freedom of Hong Kong residents in doing the above acts should not be restricted. So, if a particular law offenses the freedom given by the Article 27 of the Basic Law, it contravenes with the Basic Law.
Though the freedom of expression of everyone is protected by the above laws, Article 16 pf the Bill of Rights stated that the exercise of the rights provided by this article carries with its special duties and responsibilities. This means that even when someone enjoys the freedom of expression, he or she still needs to follow certain rules. If someone breaks the rules, he or she no longer enjoys the freedom of expression. The special duties and responsibilities that is need to bear is: i) To respect the rights or reputations of others. For example, if someone (named Mr. A) made some speech to slander someone else (named Mr. B), Mr. A is no longer protected by the freedom of expression. So if a law prohibits people from using any acts to defame or hurt the other’s right, the law is not violating the freedom of expression of people. For example, if there is a law that punishes people for slandering others, the law doesn’t violate the freedom of expression. Though it makes people cannot talk freely, it gives no restriction to people’s freedom of expression as it only punishes people who defames others’ reputation. So there is no contradiction between the law and the freedom of speech. This is because the person who is defaming the other is no longer protected by the freedom of expression, the punishment and law is then valid. ii) To protect the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Introduction of the topic Freedom of Speech II. Informing —Describe the personal liberty and the amendment The first amendment, written in the bill of rights, is used to ensure that some of the most fundamental human rights are provided to U.S. citizens equally. Freedom of speech, being one of these fundamental liberties, has been questioned quite often though, in terms of limitations. III.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Spanish 2 answes

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Freedom of Speech is one of the most powerful amendments that we have as apart of the United States Constitution. Without this right many ideas, beliefs and inventions would not exist today and the majority of the society would be left in ignorance. This right is given to all American citizens and allows them to speak their minds, beliefs and ideas to anybody of people that are willing to listen to them. Though Freedom of Speech is considered a general terms that applies to all forms of speech, there are a few exceptions to the rule.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The First Amendment protection for freedom of expression “consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief” (www.law.cornell.edu). Though there are several components of freedom of expression “the most basic component of freedom of expression is the right of freedom of speech” (www.law.cornell.edu). The First Amendment states that the “right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government”…

    • 1501 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    THESIS: The first amendment of the constitution of the United States protects our right to freedom of speech. However, the freedom to speak should not entitle the speaker to purposely hurt another person by revealing private matters or spreading rumors and lies.…

    • 1316 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the first amendment of the Bill of Rights, it clarified that all citizens of the United States have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A democracy is a “government by the people”, if the government respects the freedom of speech, of the press, and of association, the 1st Amendment guarantees these freedom from the citizens, which is an important part of…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    However freedom of speech is not absolute. The word “abridging” in the Free Speech Clause suggests that government cannot deprive the right to freedom of speech; but at the same time the suggestion is unclear about whether the government can put restrictions on how “free” the speech can be. Most people when mention the word “speech”, usually have the tendency to think of spoken words and often neglect the existence of…

    • 2295 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion from government intrusion (“First Amendment”). The freedom of expression consists the…

    • 670 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The rights to freedom of press and speech means that we have the right to express freely through media and speech. We can say and write what we think is…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of Freedom of speech is one which is held sovereign by many constitutions and individuals, especially within the American states. The idea of limiting an American citizen’s freedom of speech would be highly offensive and seen as an act only a dictatorial Government would undertake which, with many factors considered, is true. The actions that in many cases are considered by these Governments are; Threats of imprisonments if the individual acts in an unfavourable way, prohibition of political parties and protests, also a very common limitation undertook within many places, such as Korea, is the censorship of the media and the killing or imprisonment of Journalists who have took part in media considered offensive to the current Government or acts which are seen as manipulating the minds of the citizens of said Country.…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first amendment states that there can’t be any law made that takes away the peoples right of speak and posting press on topics. This amendment is the reason you are able to protest and speak your mind on any subject. There are many things that this amendment protects your natural rights with, but as always there has to be boundaries. These boundaries are needed because without them other peoples natural rights might be getting taken away.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The First Amendment of the US Constitution allows for a US citizen to have freedom of speech. This is an inalienable right that allows us to express our ideas and opinions and to communicate with each other. Some people use this amendment to justify something wrong that they did. They think that they can do or say anything that they want without being punished because they’re still following the law. If a person says something to harm or insult someone then there should be a limit placed under the freedom of speech and they should not be protected under the US Court.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first Amendment to the United States Constitution states that Congress should make not laws against free speech. The first Amendment states that Congress will make no law "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. " There are many ways in with the law, and people restrict those right. The right of freedom of speech is the most important and fundamental part of a free democracy. The first Amendment of the U.S Constitution allows people to state their opinions without fear.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Though, in the Charter of Rights, it is stated that the freedom of speech and expression can be limited or denied, depending if certain conditions are met, of which on is when the reputation or right of others is being tainted,…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Freedom of Speech

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages

    But what is Freedom of Speech? It is our ability to say what we want, when we want and to whom we want? But there are even restrictions on what we want to say for example a person cannot yell fire in a crowded movie theater. Like all situations there will be persons to disagree?…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first amendment states that congress should make no law restricting or prohibiting freedom of speech, press and religion. It also allows for the right to peacefully assemble. The first amendment protect these rights unless it imposes on someone…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays