First Amendment Flashcards
Test for regulation of speech in PF or DPF
- Reasonable TPM restriction
- Content-neutral
- Narrowly tailored to serve important gov interest (need not be LRM)
- Leaves open alternative channels of communication
Test for regulation of speech in LPF or NPF
- Objective of the regulation is to reserve forum for its intended use
- Viewpoint neutral
- Reasonably related to legitimate gov purpose
Elements for speech to be obscene:
Taken as a whole by average person:
- Appeals to prurient interest in sex (community standard)
- Patently offensive (community standard)
- Lacks serious value (national reasonable person standard)
Secondary effects exception to obscenity
Gov may issue land use or zoning restrictions to limit location/size of adult entertainment establishments if designed to reduce secondary effects of such businesses.
Restrictions must serve a substantial government interest and must not unreasonably limit alternate avenues of communication.
Elements of proof of defamation when π is a public official or it involves public concern
- All elements of defamation
- Falsity
- Fault
When may the government regulate lawful and non-misleading commercial speech?
- Serves substantial interest
- Directly advances that interest
- Narrowly tailored to that interest (need not be LRM – just a reasonable fit)
Requirements for a prior restraint to be valid:
- Standards narrowly drawn, reasonable, and definite
- Injunction must promptly be sought, and
- There must be prompt and final determination of validity of restraint
(Burden on gov to show speech is unprotected)
Standard for infringement on freedom of association to be valid:
- Compelling state interest, unrelated to suppression of ideas
- LRM of protecting gov interest
- Doesn’t singificantly affect group’s right to express its viewpoints
2 standards for election laws that impact 1A freedoms of speech, assembly and association
If restriction is severe –> NT to achieve CSI
If restriction is reasonable and nondiscriminatory –> RBR, generally upheld
Standard for statute limiting election campaign contributions
Intermediate scrutiny
Closely drawn to match a sufficiently important interest
What test is used for infringement (freedom of association) cases involving public school sponsorship of extracurricular activities
Regulations must be
- Viewpoint neutral
- Reasonably related to a legitimate gov interest
Gov action challenged under establishment clause will be invalid unless
(Lemon Test)
- Has secular purpose
- Primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion
- Does not produce excessive gov entanglement w/ religion
Standard for overbreadth in regulation of speech
Punishes a substantial amount of protected speech in relation to its plainly legitimate sweep
Constitutionality of overbroad spech regulation
Facially invalid against ANYONE, unless a court has limited construction of the regulation so as to remove the threat to constitutionally protected speech
What standard is applied to injunctions in PFs and DPFs?
If content-based, must be necessary to achieve a compelling interest.
If content-neutral, must burden no more speech than necessary to achieve important gov interest.
What speech is considered “fighting words”?
- True threats (e.g. cross burning w/ intent to intimidate)
- Fighting words (personally abusive, likely to incite immediate phys reaction in average person)
When may the government regulate child pornography?
The government may prohibit sale/distribution of visual depictions of sexual conduct actually involving minors, even if it doesn’t meet the test for obscenity.
It may not bar visual materials made with CGI or young-looking adults.
Validity of injunction prohibiting publishing of troop movements in times ofr war
Valid
Validity of injunction prohibiting publication of Pentagon Papers because it might have an effect on Vietnam War
Invalid
Validity of injunction prohibiting grand jury witness from ever disclosing testimony
Invalid
Limitations on business regulations and taxes on the press and broadcasting companies
May be subject to general business regs and taxes, but NOT those that impact press or sub-part of press based on content (e.g. medical journals) abent compelling justification.
Standards for regulation of newspapers versus broadcast media
Broadcast media is less protected from regulation, so the government may regulate more freely (e.g. prohibit indecent speech, require cable operators to require local stations…). Content-based restrictions are still subject to strict scrutiny.
Generally, all regulations of newspapers are subject to strict scrutiny.
Government regulations subject to FEC challenge
Can only challenge regs specifically designed to interfere with religion
Religious exemptions not required if law of general applicability
Constitutionality of contribution limits
Gov cannot limit aggregate amont one person/entity contributes to political candidates or committees during election
Gov can limit amount one person/entity contributes to a single candidate