First Amendment

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. . . .”

This language restricts government both more and less than it would if it were applied literally. It restricts government more in that it applies not only to Congress, but to all branches of the federal government, and to all branches of state and local government. It restricts government less in that it provides no protection to some types of speech and only limited protection to others.