How does the 1st Amendment deal with censorship?

Question

I'm writing an essay and my teacher recommended me to add some info about how the 1st Amendment involves itself with censorship. In other words, how can censorship be in use while the freedom of speech is in effect?

Please provide a credible source; I need citations.

Sorry for being vague, but I mean censorship as in the censorship of media (songs, advertisements, etc.)

Answer 1

The First Amendment forbids anyone from mentioning the constitution in print in any way whatsoever. In fact, your teacher might be in trouble for even assigning you this essay.

Answer 2

I don't know how old you are so I don't know how sophisticated the answer is that you need.

1st Amendment governs public free speech, but that doesn't mean you can say anything you want at anytime.

Read the below on the web.

In addition to the below, there was a relatively recent Supreme Court case regard a bill that Congress passed to reform federal election campaign finance. The legislation limited free speech during federal elections - it set rules and time limits and so forth. The law was challenged and went before the US Supreme Court. To the astonishment of many (including myself), the USSC ruled that Congress had the right to limit speech as it related to federal election.

Here, at least in my opinion, to limit free political speech during elections is the worst kind of censorship gov't can impose. What the USSC was smoking that day I will never know.

Lastly, Congress empowered the Federal Communications Commission to censor public information transmitted over radiowaves (this includes radio and tv). This is why raunchy DJ's like Howard Stern got himself into trouble - the FCC fined his employer a huge amount for his off-color radio show. The USSC has let stand the FCC's power to censor radio and TV broadcasts for "obscene" content.

So "free" speech is not an absolute, not even in the US

Answer 3

The 1st Amendment prohibits federal censorship. The 14th Amendment extends that to prohibit state/local govt censorship.

There are exception. Private (non-govt) forums are not within the scope, because they are not being run by the govt. And the govt can impose certain restrictions on how and when you express a message (time, place, manner) but not on content.

For citations, check the thousands of cases that have interpreted 1st Amendment constitutional protections, or the hundreds of books that have been written on the subject.

Answer 4

At the present time, Democrats in Washington are trying to sensor AM talk radio. This AM radio media is dominated by by programs and hosts who criticize the Democrats, and they want it to stop. It's called the "Fairness Act", and researching under that title will easily get you started on information. That is a clear case on censorship. Good luck.