According to the constitution. the first amendment says that Congress is not allowed to make a law that:

1. respects an establishment of religion – that is, create laws that force people to be a part of one specific religion (as opposed to England at that time, which forced people to be a part of the Church of England, a state sponsered church),

2. prohibits the free exercise of religion – (as opposed to England at the time, which arrested people for attending a church of their own choosing),

3. abridges the freedom of speech or the press (that is, laws that would prevent someone from publishing or speaking the truth about anything, including the government),

4. abridges the rights of the people to peaceably assemble (laws preventing citicizens from gathering together in a peaceful manner),

5. abridges the rights of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances (in other words, prevent the people from requesting the government make right things that it has done).

So, in my own words, the men and women elected by the US citizens to represent them as members of the legislative branch of the federal government are not permitted to pass laws that would prevent their constituency from practicing their religion, speaking freely the truth they see, or assembling together, particularly to attempt to make a statement to the government about a wrong they see occurring that they want addressed.

Note there is nothing there about state or local governments creating laws against these things – only that Congress is not permitted to do it.

The First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

It’s very interesting that all of these rights were lumped together in one amendment, and it speaks volumes about what the Founding Fathers envisioned. The “separation of church and state” that everyone likes to talk about is not even contained in the Constitution; it was taken out of context from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson.

The truth is that the Founding Fathers envisioned a place where people had the right to their opinions and their ideologies, and a right to express them freely.

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said “your freedom extends as far as the other man’s nose”. In other words, as long as I am not insisting that you believe as I do, I have the right to have and to assert my beliefs and opinions.

America – The greatest place on Earth!

Tim G,hello,I am Don . Your question makes me think of the USofA and on my ill informed knowledge of their laws I am giving you my interpretation of the amendment.

Rules are drawn up ,and to cover a diverse area of governing ,or were they to concern a business to cover all that could be envisaged to be pertinent to the company. Then something arises to cloud the issues ,and upon that there would have to be a committee meeting and alterations agreed to amend the earlier rules and regulations . This would be the first amendment . Then so on. As I said that would be my thoughts but should I be put right upon the actual meaning ,then I will have to amend my thoughts . All best,Don .

The First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, part of our Bill of Rights, prohibits the U.S. government by law from preventing U.S. citizens to speak or write their opinions freely, or to worship as they choose. It also prohibits the U.S. government from punishing citizens for exercising these rights. The First Amendment does NOT require that the government provide the means or the forum for speaking, writing, or worshiping. The First Amendment does NOT require other citizens to listen to, or read, these freely-expressed opinions, or to worship. All ten of the amendments in the Bill of Rights were written to limit the power of the federal government and, thus, to protect citizens FROM that government. Just as the by-laws of any club apply only to its members, the U.S. Constitution applies only to citizens of the U.S. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens of the U.S., NOT anyone else.

The 1st part says, the government can not stop you from attending the church of your choice, or NOT attending as the case may be. This is what is called “separation of church and state”.This is what says that you can worship as you wish, or not, without fear of the stormtroopers breaking down your door in the middle of the night for either being a member of or not being a member of a specific church.

The 2nd part is what allows you to call the president a creep and a war monger and if you are so inclined, print it in your local newspaper without fear of the stormtroopers breaking down your front door in the middle of the night

The 3rd part says you can get up on your soapbox and hold a rally in a public square and call the president a creep and a warmonger and pass out a petition calling for impeachment of Dubya and company for lying to us all about weapons of mass destruction without fear of the stormtroopers breaking down your door in the middle of the night.

Of course, with the powers granted in the PATRIOT Act, Dubya can listen in on your phone calls and read your email and look at what books you check out of the library, all without a warrant, and by the same law, the people they get these records from can not tell you they did this!

That I have the right to free speech – to state my opinions whether they differ or agree(conform) to anothers.

That the government can not interfere with me establishing my own religious beliefs, my own religion, or stop me or others from practicing that religion.

That the people can protest,(albeit peaceably), gather to listen or observe a speech, or actually sign and deliver petitions for change to our government.

The right to call Charlton Heston a complete creep for supporting the 2nd amendment.