The First Amendment prevents Congress from passing any laws that abridge the freedom of speech. But what does that actually mean? Professor Meg Mott considers the history of speech laws in the United States, how states and municipalities have tried to curb offensive speech, and how the Supreme Court has ruled on those efforts.
About Meg Mott
After twenty years of teaching political theory and constitutional law to Marlboro College undergraduates, Meg Mott has taken her love of argument to the general public. Her award-winning series “Debating Our Rights,” on the first ten amendments brings civil discussions on contentious issues to public libraries and colleges. She attended the University of New Hampshire in the 1970s and is currently teaching at Keene State College.
Underwriter: Anne Commire Fund for Women in the Humanities; National Endowment for the Humanities Democracy and the Informed Citizen Initiative.
This program is part of the “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The initiative seeks to deepen the public’s knowledge and appreciation of the vital connections between democracy, the humanities, journalism, and an informed citizenry.
Statewide Underwriters
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(Supreme Court Photo – This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire portfolio, click here.@thatmattwade)
