First Amendment

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents Congress from passing any law which:

• establishes a religion
• restricts religious freedom
• restricts free speech
• restricts the freedom of the press
• restricts the right of the people to demonstrate against the government

The exact text is at United States Constitution/Amendment One

The consequences of this Amendment to American society have been profound. First Amendment questions have been raised with regard to the separation of church and state; civil rights issues; pornography and obscenity; political speech and organizations; journalism and its restrictions; involuntary commitment laws; and many more.