Book Opener

Limits of Free SpeechThe First Amendment guarantees Americans the right to express theirthoughts and opinions. However, this freedom is not absolute. Some typesof speech are not protected by the First Amendment, and engaging in suchspeech may result in civil or criminal penalties.For example, you may not make any public statement on private propertywithout the owner’s permission, nor can you urge listeners to commit acrime. Also, you cannot, either publicly or in private conversations, knowinglymake untrue, damaging statements about a person. Obviously, threatsof violence and statements that constitute sexual harassment are not protectedforms of expression, nor is obscene language in many situations.Be aware that “speech” involves more than spoken words. Signs,posters, pamphlets, printed T-shirts, and other “writings” are among manymodes of expression that the courts consider to be speech.Ask First Would passing out flyers to advertise a school event in a store’sparking lot be a First Amendment right? Call a few businesses to find outtheir policy regarding flyers.18 Unit 1: Knowing About the LawStatutory LawStatutes are laws specifically passed by a governing body that hasbeen created for the purpose of making laws. A statute can be createdto declare the law on a particular issue or governing certain circumstances.Statutes may also order people to do something. For example,a statute may require citizens to pay taxes or to sign up for the militarydraft when they reach 18 years of age. Other statutes forbid peoplefrom doing things. One statute prevents people from discriminating inemployment or housing matters on the basis of race, color, creed,gender, or national origin.Laws passed by the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, local citycouncils, or town meetings can all be called statutory law. Statutorylaw is found in state and federal statutes, city ordinances, and townbylaws. The different terms tell us at which level of government a lawwas passed.Federal Statutes Laws that are passed by the U.S. Congress andsigned by the president are called federal statutes. The United States