1st Amendment Lesson

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?