Crash Course Government and Politics: Free Speech

Introduction to Free Speech

• Host: Craig from Crash Course
• Topic: Free Speech
• Key Concept: Money and political spending are considered speech by the Supreme Court.

First Amendment and Free Speech

• Primary Purpose: Allows public criticism of the government.
• Protection: Prevents government from silencing individuals.
• Limitations:
  • Doesn't protect against private sector actions.
  • Employees can be fired for speech in private settings.

Levels of Protection

• Political Speech:

  • Receives strongest protection.
  • Includes criticism and praise of government officials, parties, and policies.
  • Key Case: Brandenburg vs. Ohio (1968)
    • Protected speech unless it incites imminent lawless action.

• Symbolic Speech:

  • Includes wearing armbands, signs, and flag burning.
  • Limitations:
    • Not all symbolic acts are protected (e.g., inappropriate banners at school).

Unprotected Speech

• Immediate Violence: Speech likely to incite immediate violence is not protected.
• Fighting Words:
  • Speech that is likely to provoke a fight.
  • Case: Chaplinsky vs. New Hampshire
  • Rarely used exception.

Commercial Speech

• Not typically protected unless it's political in nature.

Government vs. Private Actions

• Case Study: Pickering v. Board of Education
  • Public school teacher fired for criticizing school spending.
  • Protected under First Amendment because the employer was a government entity.
  • Private employees do not have this protection.

Conclusion

• Amendment Purpose: Protects from government overreach.
• Next Topics: Other laws dealing with individual actions.

Production Notes

• Produced in association with PBS Digital Studios.
• Supported by Voqal, a nonprofit for social equity.
• Learn more at voqal.org.