1st AMD Flashcards
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology 1st AMD protected/unprotected speech Places available for speech Freedom of association Freedom of religion
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
content-based v content-neutral restrictions prior restraints vagueness and overbreadth symbolic speech anonymous speech government speech
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
content-based v content-neutral restrictions
- Content-based restrictions on speech generally must meet strict scrutiny.
a. subject matter restrictions (application of law depends on message topic)
b. viewpoint restrictions (application of law depends on message ideology) - Content-neutral laws burdening speech generally need only meet intermediate scrutiny
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
prior restraints
prior restraint - something that stops speech before it occurs
apply strict scrutiny
court orders or license/permit
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
prior restraints - court order
Court orders (TROs, injunctions) suppressing speech must meet strict scrutiny.
Procedurally proper court orders MUST BE COMPLIED WITH until they are vacated or overturned.
A person who violates a court order is barred from later challenging it.
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
prior restraints - license/permit
Govt can require a license/permit for speech ONLY if there is an important reason for licensing AND clear criteria leaving almost no discretion to the licensing authority.
Licensing schemes MUST contain procedural safeguards such as prompt determination of requests for licenses and judicial review of license denials.
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
Vagueness and overbreadth
Vagueness - a reasonable person cannot tell what speech is prohibited and what is allowed (unconstitutional)
Overbreadth - the law regulates substantially more speech than the constitution allows (unconstitutional)
Fighting words laws are unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.
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Free speech methodology
symbolic speech
Govt can regulate conduct that communicates IF it has an important interest unrelated to suppression of the message AND if the impact on communication is no greater than necessary to achieve the govt’s purpose
1st AMD issues
Free speech methodology
symbolic speech examples
flag burning (constitutional) draft card burning (not constitutional) nude dancing (may be prohibited) cross burning (constitutional UNLESS done w/intent to threaten) campaign contribution limits (constitutional) campaign expenditure limits (not constitutional)
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Free speech methodology
anonymous speech
Anonymous speech is protected
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Free speech methodology
government speech
Government speech cannot be challenged as violating the 1st AMD.
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1st AMD protected/unprotected speech
incitement of illegal activity obscene and sexually-oriented speech commercial speech defamation and IIED privacy speech by govt employees other restrictions
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1st AMD protected/unprotected speech
incitement of illegal activity
Govt may punish speech IF there is a substantial likelihood of imminent illegal activity AND if the speech is directed to causing imminent illegality.
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1st AMD protected/unprotected speech
obscene and sexually-oriented speech
Miller test for obscene speech
Miller test for obscene speech
- The material must appeal to the prurient interest (community std)
- The material must be patently offensive under the law prohibiting obscenity (depends on the law - fed, state or local)
- Taken as a whole, the material must lack serious redeeming artistic, literary, political or scientific value (ALPS) (national std)
1st AMD issues
1st AMD protected/unprotected speech
obscene and sexually-oriented speech issues
- Govt may use zoning ordinances to regulate the location of adult bookstores and movie theaters
- Child pornography may be completely banned, even if not obscene. (Children must be used in the production to be child porn; if not, it’s not child porn)
- Govt may not punish private possession of obscene materials, but govt may punish private possession of child porn.
- Govt may seize assets of businesses convicted of violating obscenity laws
- Profane and indecent speech is generally protected by the 1st AMD.
5a. Not protected over broadcast media but protected over cable or internet
5b. Not protected in schools