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On this date, the Constitution is ratified. With it comes a recommendation from many states that a Bill of Rights be added as soon as possible.
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On this date, the First Amendment is ratified, guaranteeing that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."
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This act forbade the use of "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, its flag, or its armed forces .
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A book written by Tunis Wortman that criticizes the Sedition Act of 1798. (No exact publishing date found)
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The Fourteenth Amendment requires that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
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This act-passed in the wake of World War 2, made it illegal to advocate, verbally or in print, the "desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States."
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In this case, the Supreme Court holds that "fighting words," defined as "epithets likely to provoke the average person to retaliation," are not protected by the First Amendment.
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The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a West Virginia requirement to salute the flag violates the free-speech clause of the First Amendment.
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This case dealt with freedom of the press and whether or not the New York Times could publish the "Pentagon Papers" without penalty. The final decision was that the New York Times was allowed to print the papers.
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In this case, the Supreme Court holds that the First Amendment does not protect high school students from punishment for disruptive or offensive speech in school.
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In this case, The Supreme Court ruled that cross-burning was not free speech because they are too intimidating, making them true threats.
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This case's decision was that limitations on corporate spending in elections violated First Amendment political free-speech rights.
