Link to  Center on Congress Home    Center on Congress Title

Learn About Congress
About the Center
First Amendment

 

And now, another Fact of Congress

Way back in 1789, people were noticing some things our new Constitution didn’t take care of.

So, the First Congress came up with ten changes, or amendments.

These became known as the Bill of Rights.

The 1st Amendment is important because Congress actually told itself what it could not do.

If written using today’s language, the first amendment would say, “You can’t pass laws that keep people from practicing their religion.”

“You can’t pass laws that keep people from speaking their minds or publishing their ideas.”

“And you can’t pass laws that stop folks from getting together peacefully to express their views to their people in government.”

The 1st Amendment — it’s a biggie!

And that’s another Fact of Congress

< Back to List

 

Printable Page

Copyright Center on Congress, 2000 - 2004. congress.indiana.edu