Freedom of Speech - Rights and Liberties Under the Law (Electronic book text, Annotated edition)

Speech, religion, trial by jury, the right bear to arms. America's constitutionally-protected freedoms -- always cherished, sometimes threatened, frequently taken for granted. Freedom by freedom, the titles in America's Freedoms chart the fascinating and controversial history of liberty and justice for all. Clear, balanced, and thorough, America's Freedoms offers a wealth of information and analysis for students of history, politics, and society.
-- A general discussion of the topic
-- An explanation of the freedom's history and evolution
-- A forecast for the freedom's future expression
-- A selection of historical and contemporary source materials
-- An A-to-Z dictionary of individuals, events, cases, and concepts
-- A chronology
-- An annotated bibliography

An innovative narrative approach combines history, politics, and legal doctrine to explore the origin and evolution of Americans' constitutional right to free speech.

The First Amendment's declaration that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the Freedom of Speech" is the keystone of our democracy. However, the meaning of this freedom has changed significantly over the course of U.S. history. Judicial rulings, political power plays, economic crises, and changing social mores and traditions have shaped it.
-- Four narrative chapters examine constitutional history, evolution, contemporary concerns and controversies, and prospects for the near future based on today's threats to the status quo
-- A -- Z entries survey key individuals, laws, events, judicial decisions, statutes, institutions, organizations, and concepts
-- Presents excerpts from documents, court decisions, and statutoryprovisions
-- Covers the most important free speech controversies in American politics and history, even those that never landed in court
-- Balances the claims on behalf of broadening protections for free speech with arguments emphasizing the potentially negative social consequences of such actions
-- Provides an excellent introductory reference for anyone looking for a full understanding of this important political freedom