This book addresses current free expression issues and analyzes the historical and legal contexts for the First Amendment. Designed for communication and political science courses in freedom of speech, this text encourages students to think critically about freedom of speech and provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical and legal contexts of the first amendment, from its early foundations through censorship on the Internet. This book explores the worldwide history of freedom of expression and examines classic and contemporary judicial opinions which have determined freedom of speech rights in the U.S. This text provides students with the opportunity to read significant excerpts of landmark decisions and to think critically about the issues and controversies raised in these cases. Students will appreciate the treatment of contemporary issues, including free speech in a post-9/11 world, free expression in cyberspace, and First Amendment rights on college campuses. KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS: - Focuses on landmark Supreme Court free expression decisions and covers follow-up cases that extend and apply these decisions (via significant excerpts from actual cases) so that students can consider the effect of decisions on freedom of expression and the competing values at stake in these cases. - Covers freedom of expression topics in both speech and mediated situations, with comprehensive coverage of such topics obscenity; fighting words and hate speech; national security; invasion of privacy; defamation.