Advanced Introduction to US First Amendment Law

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.

This Advanced Introduction discusses the scope of US First Amendment law, considering the available tools and approaches for thinking about constitutional problems involving the government’s regulation of speech, religion, and more. Focusing specifically on the First Amendment as interpreted by the US Supreme Court, it explores the evolution and implementation of the doctrine regarding the freedoms of speech, press, petition, assembly, association, and religion.



Key Features:







Examines the strengths and weaknesses of various methods used to interpret the First Amendment


Identifies key concepts and principles for understanding the protections provided by the First Amendment


Explores the ways in which First Amendment law has developed over time, particularly in relation to changes in technology, politics, and the Supreme Court’s membership


Illustrates the development of the Supreme Court’s thinking about First Amendment issues from the 18th into the 21st centuries



Providing an accessible and informative overview of the First Amendment, this Advanced Introduction is an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students in constitutional and administrative law. It is also a helpful guide to First Amendment law for legal practitioners and professionals, and for those generally curious about this critically important set of constitutional protections.