“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 First Amendment is one of the ten amendments included in the Bill of Rights. This amendment makes it illegal to create a law that stops freedom of speech, establishes a religion, keeps people from practicing their religion, stops press from printing what they wish to, or stops people from demonstrating against the government and assembling peacefully. The amendment prevents the government from establishing an official “correct” religion for the United States. This amendment makes it so that we can practice any religion we want to, how we want to, or choose to not practice any religion at all. Amendment One stops the government from making laws that keep people from saying what they think and feel, and it protects the right to openly share opinions and criticize the government. Because of this amendment, the government can’t control what is published or broadcast, and citizens can gather publicly or privately for political, social, religious, or recreational reasons. This amendment also grants American citizens the right to petition. People can ask for adjustments or change in government by collecting signatures and sending them to elected representatives, or by creating support groups that try to cause change by lobbying the government.