Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the U.S. Constitution to guarantee individual liberties and to ensure that the people of the United States were not trading one tyrannical government for another. The Emory Law Library’s website lists the amendments to the U.S. Constitution and links to other important historical documents. The initial step in understanding the First Amendment is to read its exact wording
CRS Annotated Constitution
The CRS Annotated Constitution was prepared by the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and published electronically by Cornell University Law School. The CRS Annotated Constitution includes a First Amendment section that provides interpretations of the various aspects of the guaranteed rights as well as links to Supreme Court opinions, the U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations. The website provides in depth information on the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Our Constitution
By Donald A. Ritchie
This a well organized book intended for readers in the seventh grade and up. This text provides an excellent overview of the constitution and a wonderful section on the First Amendment. The book opens with five chapters of background on the necessity of the Constitution and how it has been interpreted over time, followed by detailed sections on each of the articles and amendments.
This a well organized book intended for readers in the seventh grade and up. This text provides an excellent overview of the constitution and a wonderful section on the First Amendment. The book opens with five chapters of background on the necessity of the Constitution and how it has been interpreted over time, followed by detailed sections on each of the articles and amendments.
America’s Constitution: A Biography
By Akhil Reed Amar
The author provides a comprehensive history of the U.S. Constitution and its significance throughout the nation’s history. The importance of this book is that it does not focus solely on explaining what the Constitution says. This source takes it a step further and explains why the founding fathers decided to have the Constitution say it. To truly understand the First Amendment, one must understand the Constitution that it is a part of.
The author provides a comprehensive history of the U.S. Constitution and its significance throughout the nation’s history. The importance of this book is that it does not focus solely on explaining what the Constitution says. This source takes it a step further and explains why the founding fathers decided to have the Constitution say it. To truly understand the First Amendment, one must understand the Constitution that it is a part of.
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a non-profit and nonpartisan organization which considers itself to be our nations guardian of liberty. The ACLU is dedicated to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution guarantees to everyone in the United States, including the First Amendment rights of freedom of religion, speech, press, association and assembly. The website provides legislative updates, links to supreme court decisions and information on current issues.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was created in 1970 at a time when the nation's news media faced a wave of government subpoenas asking reporters to name confidential sources. Over the last four decades, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has played a role in virtually every significant press freedom case that has come before the Supreme Court and has been a major resource in free speech issues. The website contains up to date coverage on current litigation involving the First Amendment, as well as links to online resources regarding freedom of the press.
The First Amendment Project
The First Amendment Project is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting freedom of information, expression, and petition. This organization maintains a blog where pending issues are discussed and viewpoints are expressed. The website provides resources on accessing public records and the courts. Additionally, it provides links to First Amendment organizations, Congress, the courts, and the Library of Congress.
1st Amendment Online
1st Amendment Online is a website maintained by the students, professors and library staff at the University of Minnesota School of Law. The website includes links to court cases, public opinion polls and academic materials. However, what is most impressive about this website is the comprehensive list of historical documents, including such documents as Federalist Papers, records regarding the Bill of Rights debate, transcripts from Supreme Court cases and drafts of the Bill of Rights, just to name a few. This website is an absolute must for any person seeking first-hand knowledge as to how First Amendment law developed.
First Amendment Center
This website is operated by the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and provides coverage of First Amendment issues. The First Amendment Center works to preserve and protect First Amendment freedoms and serves as a forum for the study of the freedom of speech, press religion, assemble and to petition the government. The website has a extensive First Amendment Library organized by the five topics under the First Amendment.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions. This organization believes that freedom of religion is a basic human right. This website provides case law on landmark decisions and up-to-date information on current issues.
Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment
By Floyd Abrams
Floyd Abrams, a constitutional law attorney who has appeared before the United States Supreme Court, chronicles the fight to uphold the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment. This book recounts some of the major cases of the author’s career, from defamation lawsuits by Wayne Newton and Victor Lasky to campaign finance reform. The book provides a behind the scenes look at First Amendment litigation and gives sufficient background to explain the significance of each case.
Floyd Abrams, a constitutional law attorney who has appeared before the United States Supreme Court, chronicles the fight to uphold the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment. This book recounts some of the major cases of the author’s career, from defamation lawsuits by Wayne Newton and Victor Lasky to campaign finance reform. The book provides a behind the scenes look at First Amendment litigation and gives sufficient background to explain the significance of each case.
Freeing the Presses: The First Amendment in Action
By Timothy Cook
This author discusses how the First Amendment has affected the past, present, and future performance of the media. The book further addresses questions such as what the founders intentions were when they drafted the First Amendment, whether the protections given to the press produce the expected results and if the news media is truly free from the influence of the government. These are critical issues that be need address in order to ensure that the news media preforms its duties as the watchdog against the government.
This author discusses how the First Amendment has affected the past, present, and future performance of the media. The book further addresses questions such as what the founders intentions were when they drafted the First Amendment, whether the protections given to the press produce the expected results and if the news media is truly free from the influence of the government. These are critical issues that be need address in order to ensure that the news media preforms its duties as the watchdog against the government.
Religious Freedom and the Constitution
By Christopher L. Eisgruber and Lawrence G. Sager
The authors contend that religious freedom has been hobbled by the idea of "a wall of separation" between church and state. Instead they offer the concept of Equal Liberty which makes freedom of religion a function of other freedoms, like that of speech. This book offers practical ideas for resolving many of today’s controversial issues.
The authors contend that religious freedom has been hobbled by the idea of "a wall of separation" between church and state. Instead they offer the concept of Equal Liberty which makes freedom of religion a function of other freedoms, like that of speech. This book offers practical ideas for resolving many of today’s controversial issues.
United States v. American Library Association, Inc. 539 U.S. 194 (2003)
In United States v. American Library Association, Inc. 539 U.S. 194 (2003), the ALA objected to the Federal government requiring libraries to install filters on all computers as a condition of obtaining Federal funding as being unconstitutional. However, the Supreme Court held that the use of internet filtering software does not violate a library patron’s First Amendment rights or induce libraries to violate the Constitution. This ruling has caused much concern among libraries that need federal funding to survive.
First Amendment Felon
By Robert Sherrill
This source is a biographical account of Frank Wilkinson who was an instrumental defender of First Amendment rights in the United States. When questioned by the U.S. House Un-American Activities (HUAC) on public housing, Wilkinson refused to answer questions regarding his political affiliation and as a result, he was later held in contempt and was sentenced to jail time. Wilkinson became a staunch defender of free speech and devoted the rest of his life to the protection of the First Amendment for all citizens of the U.S.
This source is a biographical account of Frank Wilkinson who was an instrumental defender of First Amendment rights in the United States. When questioned by the U.S. House Un-American Activities (HUAC) on public housing, Wilkinson refused to answer questions regarding his political affiliation and as a result, he was later held in contempt and was sentenced to jail time. Wilkinson became a staunch defender of free speech and devoted the rest of his life to the protection of the First Amendment for all citizens of the U.S.
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