First Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791. The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights

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.

See Teaching Resources

 

Explore more about First Amendment

Podcast Podcast Icon
Are Religious Charter Schools Constitutional?

Reviewing oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond

Town Hall Video Town Hall Video Icon
Jewish Americans in the Civil War Era

Authors Richard Kreitner and Shari Rabin discuss their new books on the broader Jewish experience from the Revolutionary era to the Civil War, how American Jews reckoned with slavery, and Jewish participation in the Civil War.

Blog Post Blog Post Icon
Explaining the constitutional right to peacefully assemble

One of the basic rights enshrined in our Constitution is the ability to peacefully assemble to address grievances against the government. These rights predate the Constitution and have evolved over time.

The Drafting Table Drafting Table Icon
View Text

Coming soon for this provision! Until then, you can use Writing Rights to explore key historical documents, early drafts and major proposals behind each provision, and discover how the drafters deliberated, agreed and disagreed, on the path to compromise and the final text.

More from the National Constitution Center
Constitution 101 Logo
Constitution 101

Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.

Student watching NCC online class
Media Library

Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.

Historic painting of constitutional convention
Founders’ Library

Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.