Test Practice
Q: What does the First Amendment protect?
A: Religion, speech, press, assembly, petition.
Q: 5 key reasons for free speech?
A: Self-gov, defend tyranny, marketplace ideas, minority voices, safety valve.
🟩 SOCIAL MEDIA AS SPEECH
Q: 2012 ruling on Facebook Likes?
A: District Court: Likes not protected speech.
Q: 2013 ruling on Facebook Likes?
A: 4th Circuit: Likes = protected speech (like yard sign).
🟩 PRIOR RESTRAINT
Q: Define prior restraint.
A: Government halts expression before publication.
Q: U.S. stance on prior restraint?
A: Rare — speech/news usually not stopped beforehand.
🟩 MAJOR PRIOR RESTRAINT CASES
Q: Pentagon Papers (1971) ruling?
A: Allowed publication; gov’t lacked heavy proof burden.
Q: Progressive Magazine case (1979) issue?
A: Hydrogen bomb article; gov’t tried to block.
Q: Outcome of Progressive case?
A: Injunction dropped once info shown unclassified.
Q: WikiLeaks/Manning 2010 significance?
A: First Espionage Act prosecution for published leaks.
🟩 SEDITION
Q: Define sedition.
A: Advocating violent overthrow of gov’t.
Q: Sedition Act of 1798?
A: Banned false/scandalous gov’t criticism; 15 convictions.
Q: Sedition Act of 1918?
A: Crime to print disloyal/profane language vs. gov’t.
🟩 CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER → IMMINENT LAWLESS ACTION
Q: Schenck v. U.S. (1919)?
A: Upheld draft pamphlet conviction; clear & present danger test.
Q: Holmes Doctrine?
A: Gov’t can stop speech posing clear danger.
Q: Smith Act (1940)?
A: Crime to advocate or belong to overthrow groups.
Q: Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) ruling?
A: Speech protected unless likely to cause imminent lawless action.
🟩 SYMBOLIC SPEECH
Q: Define symbolic speech.
A: Expressive conduct (flag burn, armband) conveys message.
Q: Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?
A: Students can wear armbands; don’t shed rights.
Q: Morse v. Frederick (2007)?
A: Schools can punish pro-drug speech.
🟩 FIGHTING WORDS
Q: Define fighting words.
A: By utterance incite immediate breach of peace.
Q: Chaplinsky v. NH (1942)?
A: Established fighting words doctrine.
🟩 TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER
Q: What is time/place/manner?
A: Gov’t may limit where/how speech occurs for safety/order.
🟩 FOURTH AMENDMENT
Q: What does the Fourth Amendment protect?
A: Against unreasonable searches/seizures; warrants need probable cause.
🟩 FDR’S FOUR FREEDOMS (1941)
Q: What are FDR’s Four Freedoms?
A: Speech, Worship, Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear.
🟩 NEWSGATHERING RIGHTS
Q: Do journalists have more access to info than public?
A: No — same access.
Q: What legal actions can journalists face newsgathering?
A: Trespass, harassment, fraud, misrepresentation.
Q: Houchins v. KQED (1978) ruling?
A: No special press access to prisons.