Freedom of Speech and a Free Government - Essay Example

The call to the convention to devise and discuss all provisions for a constitution went out on October 16, 1786. The citizens of the new country knew that they had to have something in place that would provide for a free government instead of the loose confederation they had in place. It was realized that most of the problems being experienced by the new federation or union of states were economic and could be solved only by a common venture or government.

The whole concept of a free government would have to be based on the will of the citizens who would choose representatives to a two-house government which would provide for the governmental needs of the union. Something had to bind the people together for a free government to work and that one thing turned out to be the separation of church and state. (Joseph Smith, 1987).

The government as created by the representatives would be composed of three branches. The executive would be the leader of the entire union supported by a two-house legislature, and a system of the judiciary would make sure the laws of the legislature would follow the constitution. Involved in the Constitution would be a set of rights that each individual would be guaranteed to remain unchanged without a convention to amend the Constitution. (Joseph Smith 1987).

The First Amendment of the American Constitution is perhaps one of the best-known governmental documents of all time. The concept of free speech must be guarded at all times and for many different reasons.  The very existence of our self-governance is based on our ability to speak freely about almost anything we would care to address.  Free speech allows a person the autonomy of being one in search of whatever his idea of truth might be. One of the areas in that free speech is universally held as sacred is the freedom of religion or even the freedom from religion. (Matthew D. Bunker, 2001).

One of the interesting facts of life is that the Supreme Court has never decided what free speech is. The court has allowed that free speech is associated with the search for truth. Even unpopular opinions are allowed the right of free speech. Freedom of speech is very important in the development of political stances that individuals might take.  Through freedom of speech, various ideas can be developed and debated to establish a defensible position. It has been said that the right to express ourselves and the right of others to hear us contributes to the ordinary happiness of human beings, in general.

With that being said, there are things not protected by freedom of speech. One cannot obstruct the recruiting or enlistment of people to serve in the military. Libelous talk or press and false advertising are also restricted.