First Amendment Definitions

First Amendment– Amendment I to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing
on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Freedom of Speech– Freedom of speech is the Constitutional right to communicate one’s opinions and ideas, using one’s body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them.

Freedom of Religion– Freedom of religion or Freedom of belief is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship,
and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion.

Freedom of the Press– Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through mediums including various electronic media and published materials.

Religious Expression– The combination of freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

Separation of Church and State– The separation of church and state is the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state. This phrase was used by Thomas Jefferson but is not found in
the First Amendment.

Libel– The legally indefensible publication or broadcast of words or images that are degrading to a person or injurious to his or her reputation. Libel happens in print.

Slander– A false and malicious statement or report about someone. Slander is spoken.

Defamation– The act of defaming; related to libel, slander.

Establishment clause– the clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by Congress.

RLUIPA– The Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Protection Act was established in 2000. Its purpose is to give people the ability to exercise their religion freely on their property and public property.

RFRA– The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a federal law established in 1993. Its purpose is to give businesses the protection of their religious rights.

Obscenity– Something, such as a word, act, or expression, that is indecent or lewd.

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