A coalition of parents sued the state to prevent implementation of a law that would require all public K-12 schools and colleges to display the religious text by January.
I can put up a poster on my property or business of the ten commandments and it’s free speech. Does the government have the same protection? Can a government entity invoke the first amendment?
“Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”
In the strictest sense, it only applies to acts of Congress. It doesn’t even apply to states. However, the 14th Amendment setup a framework for incorporating the federal constitution down to the states, including this. Freedom of speech has also been interpreted more broadly in general.
Does the government itself have first amendment protection?
Against what?
I can put up a poster on my property or business of the ten commandments and it’s free speech. Does the government have the same protection? Can a government entity invoke the first amendment?
The constitution lays out certain things the government can’t say or do. One of those things is bring together church and state
A simple reading would be no.
“Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”
In the strictest sense, it only applies to acts of Congress. It doesn’t even apply to states. However, the 14th Amendment setup a framework for incorporating the federal constitution down to the states, including this. Freedom of speech has also been interpreted more broadly in general.