What amendment to the Constitution ensures the right to free speech and free press?

• A. Second Amendment
• B. First Amendment
• C. Fourth Amendment
• D. Fifth Amendment

Answer: (B)

The First Amendment to the Constitution is crucial for protecting the rights of individuals to express themselves freely and to disseminate information without government interference. Specifically, it guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

When it comes to free speech and free press, this amendment ensures that citizens can speak their minds without fear of censorship or punishment from the government. This is fundamental to maintaining a democratic society where open discourse and a diversity of opinions can flourish. Moreover, the press plays a vital role in informing the public and holding those in power accountable, which is why the protection of a free press is equally enshrined in this amendment.

The other options pertain to different rights; for example, the Second Amendment relates to the right to bear arms, the Fourth protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth encompasses rights related to legal proceedings. None of these provide the foundational protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press that the First Amendment does.