Freedom of Speech Press and Assembly

Freedom of speech, press, and assembly are First Amendment protections that limit government control over what people say, publish, and do together in public. They cover individuals, news organizations, and groups. Courts decide where the lines fall, and Congress, federal agencies, and state and local governments are the usual targets of these protections.

People usually bring questions about what speech the government can and cannot restrict. They ask about speech in schools, on government property, and on private platforms, and how libel, false information, and protest fit in. They also ask how press freedom works and how courts balance speech against other interests, such as fair trials.