1st amendment

"A nonpartisan, unbiased look at the First Amendment and how it informs our daily lives, this book clearly explains the fundamentals of American politics to middle grade readers"--Provided by publisher.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that Congress "shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." But what does that mean? In this easy-to-understand book, readers will learn more about the background and history of the First Amendment and its promises, including freedom of speech. They'll learn what that means-and doesn't mean-and more about common misconceptions about this important right. Accessible text dealing with real-life situations and graphics further explaining the details will draw in anyone interested in knowing about basic American rights.

". . . [argues] that First Amendment rights have often been curtailed in efforts to block progress, and that current measures to reduce hurtful language and to end hate speech could backfire on those who promote them. To those who see free speech as a threat to democracy, Finan offers . . . evidence from a long and sometimes challenging history of free speech in America to show how free speech has been essential to expanding democracy"--Provided by publisher.

"In this volume of the World Citizen Comics series, Ian Rosenberg and Mike Cavallaro create a practical framework for appreciating where our free speech protections have come from and how they may develop in the future. Freedom of speech is fiercely defended in America and has been since the First Amendment was written. But how does it work, and what laws shape it? Drawing on parallels between ten seminal Supreme Court cases and current events, Free Speech Handbook lays out the fundamentals of First Amendment law in an accessible and engaging way"--Provided by publisher.

Readers deepen their understanding of this important civics and media literacy topic through relevant photographs and graphic organizers that encourage the development of critical thinking skills.

What is Wrong with the First Amendment? argues that the US love affair with the First Amendment has mutated into free speech idolatry. Free speech has been placed on so high a pedestal that it is almost automatically privileged over privacy, fair trials, equality and public health, even protecting depictions of animal cruelty and violent video games sold to children. At the same time, dissent is unduly stifled and religious minorities are burdened. The First Amendment benefits the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable. By contrast, other Western democracies provide more reasonable accommodations between free speech and other values though their protections of dissent, and religious minorities are also inadequate. Professor Steven H. Shiffrin argues that US free speech extremism is not the product of broad cultural factors, but rather political ideologies developed after the 1950s. He shows that conservatives and liberals have arrived at similar conclusions for different political reasons.

"What is free speech and why is it so special? 'Your Voice is Your Superpower' tells you why your voice matters and how you can use it and also why we must protect everyone's right to free speech"--Back cover.

Contains alphabetically arranged entries about various topics related to First Amendment rights, with a chronological history and overview of the amendment that discusses freedom of speech, freedom of the press, assembly, association, and petition, and other issues.

"It's a free country! But what does that mean? The five liberties protected by the First Amendment are explained here in . . . rhymes [and] . . . examples demonstrate the meaning of freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and the rights to assemble peacefully and to petition the government"--Provided by publisher.

"Most Americans agree about the importance of free speech. But many don't understand the scope and limitations of this treasured liberty. Learn about the history, complexities, and conflicts related to free speech rights, from flag-burning to the treatment of hate speech"--Provided by publisher.