Is censorship compatible with the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States?

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Authors
Libert, Jerrine.
Advisor
Issue Date
2001
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Department of Political Science
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Different perspectives of censorship as well as different approaches to the free speech clause of the First Amendment require an acceptable balance between individual liberties and the rights of the group. Since the Constitution does not define "freedom of speech," it is difficult to ascertain what speech is protected by the First Amendment and what is not. We look to the courts for a strong precedent to influence our current decisions but find that speech that was considered unprotected in some of the earlier periods of our history is now seen in a kind of gray area of acceptability. Yet people are speaking out about a lack of standards and an excess of violence in entertainment and on the Internet that require a fresh point of view. From Rousseau to Rehnquist, opinions often depend upon the political tenor of the times. This evaluation of diverse perspectives of censorship and various approaches to the free speech clause of the First Amendment, focuses on obscenity in entertainment and its impact on the people of a representative democracy who have voice and who are making their voices heard in the year 2000.

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