Freedom of Speech in Politics
Freedom of speech should be limited for journalist
The first Amendment to the Constitution protects free expression, speech, and press against government suppression. “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” (“Gora”) Each state’s constitutions contain promises of free expression like to those in the U.S. Constitution. Although the Constitution gives a person these rights, there should limits, in politics, education, or everyday life. The current limits, such as a person’s inability to cause a public panic, while a good start, are simply not enough; restrictions must be more extensive. In 1791, the first Amendment was written to serve as a replacement for the missing denotation of civil liberties not promised in the Constitution written by some of the most intelligent men of America. (“U.S”) Throughout history, the first Amendment has been modified and re-interpreted to create laws, like the Alien and Sedition acts of 1798,(“the alien”) which were a set of laws passed by congress during John Adams 's presidency that was set in place to protect against anarchy. The first amendment plays a very important part of society today.
Since the 1960s, the Supreme Court has expanded freedom of speech and rights of the press in cases at the federal level of government; the final and most official ruling of America is Yates v. United States in 1857 and New York Times Co. v. United States in 1971 (“Notable”). Yates, occurring in 1857, dealt with the Smith Act, which outlawed the learning or sharing of thoughts of violent ways to overthrow the government. It was decided that there must be proof of unhidden illegal actions, not just expression of ideas about unlawful behavior (“Yates”). In the New York Times case, the Court stopped the federal government from using “prior restraint” to stop a newspaper from printing information about the Vietnam War that it did not want the public to know about (“infoplease”). They stated that
The first Amendment to the Constitution protects free expression, speech, and press against government suppression. “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” (“Gora”) Each state’s constitutions contain promises of free expression like to those in the U.S. Constitution. Although the Constitution gives a person these rights, there should limits, in politics, education, or everyday life. The current limits, such as a person’s inability to cause a public panic, while a good start, are simply not enough; restrictions must be more extensive. In 1791, the first Amendment was written to serve as a replacement for the missing denotation of civil liberties not promised in the Constitution written by some of the most intelligent men of America. (“U.S”) Throughout history, the first Amendment has been modified and re-interpreted to create laws, like the Alien and Sedition acts of 1798,(“the alien”) which were a set of laws passed by congress during John Adams 's presidency that was set in place to protect against anarchy. The first amendment plays a very important part of society today.
Since the 1960s, the Supreme Court has expanded freedom of speech and rights of the press in cases at the federal level of government; the final and most official ruling of America is Yates v. United States in 1857 and New York Times Co. v. United States in 1971 (“Notable”). Yates, occurring in 1857, dealt with the Smith Act, which outlawed the learning or sharing of thoughts of violent ways to overthrow the government. It was decided that there must be proof of unhidden illegal actions, not just expression of ideas about unlawful behavior (“Yates”). In the New York Times case, the Court stopped the federal government from using “prior restraint” to stop a newspaper from printing information about the Vietnam War that it did not want the public to know about (“infoplease”). They stated that
Cited: The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798." Archiving Early America: Primary Source Material from 18th Century America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. "Conversations in Management." Grover Cleveland. The Huston Pilgrim, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. "Facts and Details." HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. Grant, Stan. "U.S. and China: Worlds Apart but Much in Common - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 07 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. "Notable First Amendment Court Cases." American Library Association. American Library Assassination, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. Sohn, Emily. "Presidents and Their Mistresses: Who Cares?" Discovery News. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. "U.S. Constitution: First Amendment." First Amendment Freedom of Speech, Religion and Expression. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. "Wordwatchers." Wordwatchers. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. "Yates v. United States | Casebriefs." Yates v. United States | Casebriefs. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. "Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies - Princeton University." Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies - Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.