Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition
Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Proposal and ratification: The first ten amendments were proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September 25, 1789. was completed on December 15, 1791.
Note (Government Publishing Office): Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time of .
Simplified explanation
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.