Random Fact of the Day  Original Bubble Gum is pink because Walter Deimer, a Fleer employee, had only pink coloring left when he mixed up his first successful batch.

Chapter 4, Section 1 The First Amendment

Main Idea - Soon after the ratification of the Constitution, the First Amendment was added to guarantee basic freedoms essential to our democracy.

I. First Amendment Freedoms A. The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, protects our civil liberties. A. The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, protects our civil liberties. B. Civil Liberties- Freedoms we have to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment. B. Civil Liberties- Freedoms we have to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment.

C. The 1st Amendment protects 5 basic freedoms: 1. Religion

2. Speech

3. Assembly

4. Press

5. Petition

D. Congress may not establish an official religion. ***Cannot favor one over another, or treat people differently because of their beliefs. ***People can practice their faith as they wish.***

E. People have the right to speak freely about our government without fear of punishment. *** Freedom of speech includes conversations, radio, TV. It also protects forms of expression other than words, such as clothing.***

***We can express ourselves through print and other media. Government cannot practice censorship.*** F. Censorship- banning of printed materials or films because they contain certain ideas.

G. We can gather in groups as long as it is peaceful. ***Governments can make up rules about where and when activities can be held but cannot ban them. We can join clubs, political parties, unions etc. *** H. We have the right to petition government. ***We express ourselves through writing to local elected representatives.***

I. Petition- A formal request II. Limits of First Amendment Freedoms A. Supreme Court has decided that 1st amendment freedoms are limited. ***You cannot provoke a riot. You may not speak or write in a way that leads to criminal activities or efforts to overthrow the government.***

***Use civil liberties responsibly, do not interfere with the rights of others. You CAN criticize government officials but not spread lies that hurt someone’s reputation.*** B. Slander- lies that are spoken about someone C. Libel- lies that are printed or written

***Unlimited freedom is not possible in a society. The rights of one individual must be balanced against the rights of all others.***

Patriot Act Introduction  Just six weeks after the September 11 attacks, a panicked Congress passed the USA Patriot Act, an overnight revision of the nation's surveillance laws that vastly expanded the government's authority to what some would say, spy on its own citizens, while simultaneously reducing checks and balances of our branches.  Just six weeks after the September 11 attacks, a panicked Congress passed the USA Patriot Act, an overnight revision of the nation's surveillance laws that vastly expanded the government's authority to what some would say, spy on its own citizens, while simultaneously reducing checks and balances of our branches.  Some feel the PATRIOT Act has directly infringed on many of the rights and freedoms granted by the Bill of Rights.

Limited Freedom? 1. Do you feel the government should be able to listen to your phone conversations, read s, monitor you on the internet to “protect” the U.S. from another 9/11? 2. Do you think the Patriot Act helps or hurts us? 3. In your opinion, is the Patriot Act a direct violation of the Bill of Rights?

Mini Quiz!!! Mini Quiz!!! 1. The First Amendment protects how many basic freedoms? 2. What is censorship? Can the government practice it? 3. Give some examples of how we can practice free speech… 4. Spoken lies about someone? 5. Written lies? 6. What are civil liberties?