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Free Speech: The Debate Over The Current Scope Of Protection Provided Under The First Amendment, Susan E. Hanna
Free Speech: The Debate Over The Current Scope Of Protection Provided Under The First Amendment, Susan E. Hanna
Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)
The First Amendment guarantees that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech .... " The founding fathers clearly recognized the importance of freedom of speech to a democracy, and thus provided for its complete protection. A democracy, however, requires both liberty and order if it is to be effective. The problem, then, is balancing the needs of freedom and civil order in a manner that least restricts liberty, yet still maintains the order that is crucial to the life of a democracy.
The on-going debate over the scope of protection provided under the First Amendment reflects …