First Amendment

Definition:

Amendment 1. 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; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The first and perhaps the best-known of the Constitutional amendments. The first 10 amendments are called the "Bill of Rights." Rep. James Madison drafted 17; the Senate revised to 12; the states adopted 10.

This amendment contains three key rights: freedom of speech, the press and religion. Early colonists came to America to seek freedom of relgion and several state constitutions had provisions prohibiting state-sanctioned religion.

Also Known As: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion