Religion, expression, and petition
Protects religious liberty, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and petitions to the government.
In Simple, Modern English
Government may not establish religion or prohibit its free exercise. It may not abridge freedom of speech or the press. People may gather peacefully and ask government to address grievances.
Important Clauses & Details
Two religion clauses
The Establishment Clause restrains government establishment of religion; the Free Exercise Clause protects religious practice. They address different threats to religious liberty.
Speech and press
These protect expression and publication against government restriction. Political criticism is a central example.
Assembly and petition
People can peacefully gather and request government action or relief, including through protest and organized advocacy.
Establishment Clause
The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits government establishment of religion. Creating an official national church or compelling a government religious observance raises establishment concerns. Private religious practice is protected by the distinct Free Exercise Clause. Read the source.
Free Exercise Clause
The First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause protects religious belief and practice against government interference. A law targeting worship because of hostility to a religion raises free-exercise concerns. The clause does not automatically exempt every religiously motivated action from every generally applicable law. Establishment concerns government establishment of religion.
Why It Was Added
Ratification debates raised fears that the stronger federal government could suppress dissent and religious liberty. Experience with official churches, censorship, and punishment of critics helped motivate explicit protections in the Bill of Rights.
These protections constrain government; they are not a general guarantee against consequences from private people. Rights have defined limits, and most First Amendment protections apply to states through the 14th Amendment.
Plain-English study paraphrases summarize the text; they are not verbatim translations. Historical provisions and later changes are identified above. Sources: National Archives and Constitution Annotated.