Published: March 6, 2023

The American people created the Constitution, which has been in operation since March 1789,  because they wanted individual protections from the government. In June 1789, U.S. House of Representatives member James Madison drafted a list of amendments to the Constitution. The House approved 17 of the amendments, and the Senate 12. In October 1789, President George Washington sent the amendments to the states for approval. Two years later, on Dec. 15, 1791, three-fourths of the states ratified 10 of the amendments, which became known as the Bill of Rights. The first of these amendments protected individual opinions, ideas and communication. 

“The five freedoms protected by the First Amendment are fundamental to modern democracy,” said political science professor Steven Vanderheiden, director of CU Boulder’s Keller Center, which focuses on the First Amendment. “They protect the right of members of the public to meaningfully participate in processes of self-governance and provide a vital check on state power.”

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.

The five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees:

Religion

Religion

Speech

Speech

Press

Press

Assembly

Assembly

Petition

Petition

The First Amendment Applies to:

Federal Government

State Government

Local Government

1789

Drafted by James Madison

1791

Ratified as part of the Bill of Rights

Famous court cases related to First Amendment:

LeRoy Keller Center for the Study of the First Amendment: 

  1. QuillEndowed in 1993 by LeRoy “Lee” Keller (Econ’29), who worked in journalism for more than four decades 
  2. Housed within CU Boulder’s political science department
  3. Supports teaching, research and community outreach on First Amendment rights and liberties
  4. Informs the public about First Amendment rights and current threats to them 
  5. Current director is political science professor Steven Vanderheiden 

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