Which amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition?

• A. The Fourth Amendment
• B. The Tenth Amendment
• C. The First Amendment
• D. The Eighth Amendment

Answer: (C)

Five fundamental rights are protected by a single amendment. It prohibits Congress from making any law that establishes a national religion or restricts religious practice, and it also guards the freedoms of speech, of the press, and the rights to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances. This is the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. It ensures you can express ideas, publish information, practice your beliefs, gather with others, and seek changes from the government without fear of punishment. The other amendments address different protections: one covers protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, another reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states or the people, and another prohibits excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishment.