{"id":30879,"date":"2021-07-02T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T16:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/constitution\/amendment1\/first-amendment-freedom-of-assembly-and-petition.html"},"modified":"2024-09-30T14:48:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:48:32","slug":"first-amendment-freedom-of-assembly-and-petition","status":"publish","type":"constitution","link":"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/first-amendment-freedom-of-assembly-and-petition.html","title":{"rendered":"Freedom of Assembly and Petition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7  fl-block-columns fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles   fl-block-column fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Freedom of Assembly and Petition<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/balrina-ahluwalia-esq\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Balrina Ahluwalia, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/edward-maggio-esq\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Edward Maggio, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last reviewed\n        <time>\n                            September 30, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\" rel=\"noopener\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\" rel=\"noopener\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\" rel=\"noopener\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>The freedoms of assembly and petition are lesser-known constitutional rights established by the First Amendment. In this article, we explore the significance of these freedoms and their interpretation by the Supreme Court, as well as the modern tendency to include them in an expansive definition of free speech.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/bill-of-rights.html\">Bill of Rights<\/a> consists of the first ten amendments to the <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/\">U.S. Constitution<\/a>. The Framers developed them to preserve civil liberties and limit the power of government. The <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1.html\">First Amendment<\/a> reflects these democratic ideals. It reads:<\/p>\r\n<p><i>&quot;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.&quot;<\/i><\/p>\r\n<p>Congress is prohibited from enacting laws that infringe upon the constitutional freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.<\/p>\r\n<p>They include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/freedom-of-religion.html\">Freedom of religion<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/freedom-of-speech.html\">Freedom of speech<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/first-amendment-freedom-of-the-press.html\">Freedom of the press<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><p>Freedom of assembly<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><p>Freedom of petition<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>We often refer to these as the five pillars of the First Amendment.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Interpretation of the First Amendment<\/h2>\r\n<p>As the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, the <a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Supreme Court<\/a> interprets these rights. Through the <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment14\/annotation03.html\">Fourteenth Amendment\u2019s<\/a> due process clause and the doctrine of incorporation, the Court has determined this First Amendment prohibition on Congress extends to the states. Thus, the First Amendment protects these rights from government restrictions of any kind at any level.<\/p>\r\n<p>Indeed, these rights are not without limits. The Supreme Court has ruled that they must be weighed against valid governmental interests, such as maintaining public order and safety.<\/p>\r\n<p>This can be a delicate balance, and government restrictions on these freedoms often face First Amendment challenges. The freedoms of petition and assembly are no exception.<\/p>\r\n<h2>First Amendment Rights of Assembly and Petition<\/h2>\r\n<p>The right of assembly protects people\u2019s freedom to gather on public property, including public forums like parks and sidewalks, to engage in expressive activities. This can include <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/does-the-first-amendment-protect-protestors-.html\">protests<\/a>, planning meetings, and other social or political purposes.<\/p>\r\n<p>The right to petition protects the people\u2019s right to communicate directly with government officials. This can be to complain, request action, share a viewpoint, or anything else.<\/p>\r\n<p>The modern Supreme Court often treats both rights as addressed by an expansive interpretation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/freedom-of-speech.html\">free speech clause<\/a>. These later Supreme Court cases acknowledge the overlap between several First Amendment freedoms.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court has also recognized that <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/freedom-of-expression.html\" rel=\"noopener\">freedom of expression<\/a> may very well <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/357\/449.html\" rel=\"noopener\">encompass the rights of assembly and petition<\/a>, as well as the rights to free speech and a free press. Though actions may still be designated as either assembly or petition, similar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/law-and-life\/challenging-laws-3-levels-of-scrutiny-explained\/\" rel=\"noopener\">standards<\/a> will <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/09-1476.html\" rel=\"noopener\">generally apply<\/a> for evaluating restrictions on these freedoms.<\/p>\r\n<p>For example, the First Amendment restricts government action interfering with private First Amendment rights. It doesn\u2019t restrict government regulation of <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/government-speech-and-government-property-under-the-first-amendm.html\">government speech<\/a> or expression. And it doesn\u2019t generally apply to restrictions imposed by private entities.<\/p>\r\n<p>As such, a <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/when-can-the-government-regulate-free-speech-.html\">government employee<\/a> who brings a First Amendment action against their employer <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/461\/138.html\" rel=\"noopener\">must show<\/a> they were speaking or acting as a private individual about a matter of public concern.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Freedom of Association<\/h2>\r\n<p>The First Amendment doesn\u2019t mention <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1\/first-amendment-freedom-of-association.html\">freedom of association<\/a>. However, the Court has acknowledged it as a <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/468\/609.html\" rel=\"noopener\">First Amendment <\/a>right. The Court reasoned that the freedom of association is an essential \u201cmeans of preserving\u201d other freedoms explicitly included in the First Amendment. In other words, the Court has recognized the people\u2019s right to associate to engage in \u201cspeech, assembly, petition for the redress of grievances, and the exercise of religion.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>However, this has not always been the case.<\/p>\r\n<h2>United States v. Cruikshank<\/h2>\r\n<p>The Supreme Court first addressed the right of assembly in <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/92\/542.html\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>United States v. Cruikshank<\/i><\/a><i> <\/i>(1876). The <i>Cruikshank <\/i>Court overturned the convictions of several KKK members who participated in the Colfax Massacres in which 100 African Americans were killed.<\/p>\r\n<p>Cruikshank and others were charged under the Enforcement Act of 1870 for conspiring to deprive the victims of their constitutional right to assemble peaceably. The Court explained that the charges didn\u2019t allege that victims were trying to assemble for a purpose related to the national government.<\/p>\r\n<p>Without such a purpose, the Court explained, the victims\u2019 peaceful assembly wasn\u2019t protected by the First Amendment. The Court reasoned that the constitutional right to assemble protects rights granted by national citizenship, which wasn\u2019t the case here.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/dictum.html\" rel=\"noopener\">The Court\u2019s dicta<\/a> explained that the First Amendment \u201cwas not intended to limit the powers of the State governments in respect to their own citizens, but to operate on the National government alone.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court held the same to be true about the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Specifically, it protects only against interference by the federal government.<\/p>\r\n<p>Still, the <i>Cruikshank<\/i> Court affirmed that the right of peaceable assembly \u201cis, and always has been, one of the attributes of citizenship under a free government.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<h2>DeJonge v. Oregon<\/h2>\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/299\/353.html\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>DeJonge v. Oregon<\/i><\/a> (1937) Court effectively removed the <i>Cruikshank <\/i>limitation on First Amendment protections for the right to assemble. In <i>DeJonge<\/i>, the Court explained the freedom of assembly protects \u201cthe holding of meetings for peaceable political action\u201d or any lawful discussion. &nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>It described this right as \u201ccognate to those of free speech and free press and is equally fundamental.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court\u2019s recognition of the right of assembly as \u201cequally fundamental\u201d eliminated the <i>Cruikshank<\/i> limitation. It limited state power by rendering the First Amendment right of assembly applicable to the states.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court explained that unless speech and discussion at a peaceful assembly exceed the bounds of constitutionally protected free speech, assembling for lawful discussion may not be criminalized.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Thomas v. Collins<\/h2>\r\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/323\/516.html\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Thomas v. Collins<\/i><\/a> (1945), the Court struck down a Texas law prohibiting unions from soliciting new members without obtaining a permit. Following his conviction for speaking at a public rally, a union organizer challenged the law on First Amendment grounds.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court held that speech protected by the First Amendment can be expressed at an assembly, by petition, or in many other forms. The <i>Thomas <\/i>Court reasoned that the right of union organizers to inform people about the benefits of union membership \u201cis protected not only as part of free speech, but as part of free assembly.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The <i>Thomas<\/i> Court explained that although the rights to free speech and a free press aren\u2019t the same as the rights to assemble and petition, they are inseparable.<\/p>\r\n<h2>History of the Right to Petition<\/h2>\r\n<p>The right to petition derives from the <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/magna-carta.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Magna Carta (1215)<\/a>, the royal charter of English liberties. The Bill of Rights Framers included this right partly because King George III persistently disregarded the founders\u2019 petitions or complaints.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Framers sought to ensure that the new government in America would be receptive to the concerns of its citizens. The right to petition is based on the principle that democracy necessitates the people\u2019s ability to voice their concerns freely and directly with government officials.<\/p>\r\n<p>The movement gained prominence as petitions to abolish slavery in Washington, D.C., flooded into Congress during the 1830s. The <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article1\/annotation06.html\">House of Representatives<\/a> ignored these petitions and even adopted a gag rule. It stated,<\/p>\r\n<p><i>\u201cThat no petition, memorial, resolution, or other paper praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, or any State or Territories of the United States in which it now exists, shall be received by this House, or entertained in any way whatever.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n<p>Former President John Quincy Adams, later elected to the House of Representatives, spent years fighting this rule to preserve the constitutional right to petition. He saw it as the right to hold the government accountable.<\/p>\r\n<p>And he insisted it was necessary if the government established by the Constitution would survive. Adams ultimately succeeded in repealing the gag rule and restoring Americans\u2019 right to petition the government.<\/p>\r\n<h2>The Right to Petition<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/election-campaign-and-political-law.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Lobbying<\/a> is one example of exercising the right to petition. Essentially, lobbying consists of attempts to persuade a government official to take a particular action, and it is protected by the First Amendment.<\/p>\r\n<p>However, the Court has determined that Congress may regulate lobbyists. In 1954, <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/347\/612.html\" rel=\"noopener\">the Court reasoned<\/a> that to preserve the integrity of government, elected officials need certain information about those hired to influence Congress. Regulation that requires registration, disclosures, and reporting is necessary for lawmakers to evaluate the innumerable pressures to which they\u2019re regularly subjected.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court has also recognized that <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/365\/127.html\" rel=\"noopener\">the right of petition extends beyond grievances<\/a>. It can include demands on the government to exercise its power and authority to advance people\u2019s interests and viewpoints regarding controversial political matters.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Court clarified that a representative democracy such as ours requires that the people be able to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/404\/508.html\" rel=\"noopener\">freely inform the government of their wishes<\/a>.\u201d After all, the idea behind representative government depends on the people\u2019s ability to make their wishes known to their representatives.<\/p>\r\n<p>As such, this expanded right to petition extends to all departments and branches of government. Likewise, the Court has held that the right to petition <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/461\/731.html\" rel=\"noopener\">protects a right to access the court system<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>McDonald v. Smith<\/h2>\r\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/472\/479.html\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>McDonald v. Smith<\/i><\/a> (1985), the Court unanimously held that the First Amendment petition clause doesn\u2019t provide immunity from otherwise illegal acts. Robert McDonald sent letters to the president and other government officials opposing David Smith\u2019s appointment as U.S. attorney.<\/p>\r\n<p>The letters included false allegations that Smith engaged in fraud, blackmail, civil rights violations, and other allegations. Smith lost the appointment. He sued McDonald for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/defamation-libel-slander.html\" rel=\"noopener\">defamation<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>McDonald asserted his right of petition, which gave him immunity from such charges. The Court disagreed.<\/p>\r\n<p>It explained that the inclusion of defamatory statements in a petition to a government official doesn\u2019t provide any immunity. The Court said, \u201cAlthough the values in the right of petition as an important aspect of self-government are beyond question, it does not follow that the Framers of the First Amendment believed that the Petition Clause provided absolute immunity from damages for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/defamation-libel-slander.html\" rel=\"noopener\">libel<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The First Amendment rights to assembly and petition stem from a rather rich history and commitment to democratic principles. However, as interpreted, their protection and treatment align closely with freedom of speech and offer insight that seems to build upon the body of case law addressing expansive freedom of expression.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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