Lesson 2 Wrap Up and Looking Ahead

 

Summary

In Lesson 2 we explored the foundation of free speech and expression in the United States—the First Amendment. If a policy from local, state, or federal government attempts to limit that expression, the law must pass strict scrutiny and ensure the language in the law is not too vague or overbroad. Those tests also help us understand different types of ways speech can be limited (content-neutral, content specific, or viewpoint based). However, not all types of speech are allowed and there are some instances where certain authorities (including schools) can limit speech for certain populations (students).

Now that you have finished working through the Lesson 2 material, The following Crash Course Government video provides a summary of the content we covered in Lesson 2.

 

Check and Double Check

By the end of this lesson, make sure you have completed the readings and activities found in the Lesson 2 Course Schedule.

Looking Ahead

Now that we understand how free speech is protected in the U.S., Lesson 3 will examine one type of speech that is not protected because it causes harm to others: defamation. Lesson 3 will explore the anatomy of a defamation lawsuit, why that type of speech is not protected, and how a plaintiff demonstrates they have been harmed.