Are the freedoms named in the First Amendment fundamental and if so why?
442874
Yes, the freedoms of the 1st are fundamental to a democracy and a non-tyrannical government. They protect us as individuals and allow us to think for ourselves.
221469
Liberty is the essential heart of freedom.  Liberty means being able to choose one's own actions, without intrusion by government.  Every law that restricts your movement, your actions or your words is one that restricts your liberty.\n\nPrivacy is the notion that the government will not intrude upon actions that you intend to be private.  For instance, intercepting someones mail violates their privacy, as it is expected that only the recipient of the mail will read it.\n\nEvery infringement upon privacy can therefore potentially result in a infringement of liberty.  For example, a wiretap could lead to an arrest.\n\nPeople have a right to privacy, that is, they have a right to expect that the government will do as little as necessary to intrude upon their rights.  This right is expressly provided for in the bill of rights.  These rules govern due process.  This is why the police must obtain a warrant to do a search.
822264
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/First_amendment\nhttp://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/\nhttp://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html\nHere are 3
315316
Amendment I\n\nCongress 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.\n\nAmendment II\n\nA well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.\n\nAmendment III\n\nNo soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.\n\nAmendment IV\n\nThe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.\n\nAmendment V\n\nNo person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.\n\nAmendment VI\n\nIn all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.\n\nAmendment VII\n\nIn suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.\n\nAmendment VIII\n\nExcessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.\n\nAmendment IX\n\nThe enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.\n\nAmendment X\n\nThe powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
647541
Good question...I modified a bit to current times.  BTW - I realize this is for homework, but I thought it fun anyway.\n\nAmendment 1: Congress shall pass no law prohibiiting a reasonable establishment of religion, restricting a public voice offering opinion except in the case of sedition, preventing the gathering of people to voice said opinion or any other provided reasonable safety be held, nor restricting the press to publish opinion apart from matters that severely address the safety of the nation as a whole, or the call upon the government to address the grievences of the people.\n\nAmendment 2\nArms shall be held in the case of a standing militia recognized by the government of the United States.\n\nAmendment 3\nQuartering of troops shall not be forced unless law has been passed and the owner has been notified.\n\nAmendment 4\nSearches of persons and properties shall be conducted only when the person or owner of said property is well notiifed and informed.  Seizures of properties shall have reasonable consent from the court and written notice given to the owner or location of said property defining to what property is to be seized.
133719
Yes, it has been held as a protected form of speech in two separate cases, Texas v. Johnson (1989) and US v. Eichman (1990). Information about the two cases is below.
819691
I am a conservative Republican and I absolutely believe that we have a First Amendment Right to burn the U.S. Flag.  "I may not agree with a word that you are saying, I but I would defend, to the death, your right to say it."    No law abridging "freedom of speech".  First you have to ask what "speech" is.  If you think that speech only means "the spoken and written word", then fine, that's it.  The real question becomes, how far should the government be able to go to control your message coming across?  Hey, the internet and this Board aren't mentioned.  What is stopping the Government from shutting this site down.  Typing this stupid debate is not "speech" right?  P.S. chicks are allowed to dance nude BECAUSE of the liberal interpretation of "free speech", so don't rock the boat!
636984
Through the bill of rights; the first amendment protects our right to freedom of speech. This amendment cannot be changed unless repealed by a vote for another amendment to change this right.
979639
Nope its called the first ammendment! Its legal, and maybe just maybe there are some important unanswered questions raised by all the theories! Like how did the twin towers cloaspe when steel doesnt melt at that temp! Or why were the bomb sniffing dogs removed ahead of time, why Marivn Bush profited so highly from speculation with building insurace days before! why the saudis were never threatened by the US when all but one highjacker are saudi citizens, many unanswered questions that desirve an answer
877310
Many prefer security to freedom, becuase they don't ever attempt to utilize their freedoms, so they don't realize when they have lost them.\n\nI'm from New Hampshire, the "Live Free or Die" state. And I try to remind people that we only have those freedoms that we can defend. And we only have those rights we choose to fight for.\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nIn honor of Pastor Martin Niemöller:\n\nFirst they came for the 6th Amendment, but I hadn't been accused of a crime, so I didn't object to denial of counsel.\n\nThen they came for the 4th Amendment, but I wasn't talking to anyone overseas, so they wouldn't be monitoring me.\n\nThen they came for the rest of the 4th Amendment, but I only called my mother, so there was nothing suspicious in my phone records.\n\nThen they came for the 1st Amendment, but I never associated with criminals, so I didn't worry about being convicted purely based on what other people might do.\n\nThen they came for the 14th Amendment, but I never really understood the rules for Due Process (and wasn't allowed an attorney), so I didn't object.\n\nThen they came for the rest of the 1st Amendment, but I never told anyone about what the government was doing, so again I remained silent.\n\nThen they came for the 5th Amendment,  ......  and I no longer had the right to remain silent.
185129
The first amendment, among other things, protects the individual's freedom to associate with whomever he chooses.  As far as I'm concerned, if two fellas want to free associate, they can do it as much as they like.  But the day you tell me that marrying another man is mandatory, that's the day when I leave the US.  Nobody's gonna force me to get gay married.
722069
Drinking in the streets and smoking in bars is what you call freedom?\n\nNo - freedom is knowing that you can express yourself any way you want that does not harm others, can express any idea that you want, can worship in any way that you want, can go anywhere you want without documentation, can be as you want to be without fear of authorities detaining you or seizing your possessions without cause as defined by law.\n\nYes, America is the most free country in the world - but too few Americans use these freedoms, and that is probably what you realized when you were here.  It's this fact that most threatens the freedom we have.\n\nNote to American readers: Freedom does NOT include a right to NOT be offended.\n\n[ADDED] Seeing your details.... Look, if you're saying the US isn't free, I disagree, and my reasons are stated.  But if you're trying to start a pissing contest about who is freer - US or UK - screw the argument; both are free, OK?
1023615
From the Preamble of the US Constitution (basically like a mission statement for the US Goverment)\n\nAt the time that it was written, Enlightenment thinkers believed the legitimate job of government was to protect citizen's lives, basic freedoms, and the ability to do things like earn a living.  \n\n"blessings of liberty" would be the rhetoric for basic freedoms like speech and religion.  It ties into the rhetoric of being endowed inalienable right from the creator, etc. from the Declaration of Independence, as in blessings from god (creator) as part of inalienable rights.
237658
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees, among other things, freedom of speech, but this right is not absolute.  Certain types of speech are not protected by the Constitution, which means that State goverments may promulgate laws to limit them.  Examples include "fighting words" (words meant to provoke a physical fight), "commercial speech" (claims made in advertising), "obscenity" (prurient language), etc.
579119
The Bill of Rights is a part of the Constitution.
40522
Just to be accurate, the "Bill of Rights" are the first ten amendments to the US constitution. To pick the most important one is a tough question. Your environment and background would play an important role in that choice. Guess I'll go out on a limb and say the first:\n\nFreedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and to petition the government. 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. \n\nI mean, if it wasnt for that "right", we might not be able to have this forum.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Bill_of_Rights#The_Amendments
1058802
The First Amendment protects stupid opinions.