Institute For Free Speech
Default Article

Right to Petition: The Freedom to Speak to the Government
January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The First Amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” While the right to petition the government is inextricably linked with the right to free political speech, it is nonetheless a crucial part of the Constitution of its own accord….

From Washington to Wisconsin, States Are Punishing Dissent
May 11, 2018   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

Just over a year ago, after the Trump administration gave the green light to move forward with construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, an ...

Probable cause is not a bludgeon for the thought police 
March 8, 2018   •  By David Keating   •  ,

When former U.S. Marine Corps officer Fane Lozman approached the lectern during a Riviera Beach City Council meeting to air his grievances as a ...

Lozman v. Riviera Beach
December 29, 2017   •  By Scott Blackburn   •  , ,

The Institute for Free Speech respectfully submits that this Court should reject any mode of analysis for First Amendment retaliatory arrest claims that ignores ...

Stop Using ‘Special Interests’ As An Insult
April 27, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

Commentators have debated for months what President Donald Trump’s pledge to “drain the swamp” really means. Many believe that the “swamp” represents so-called “special ...

Possible expansion of lobbying restrictions threaten First Amendment
February 3, 2017   •  By Eric Wang   •  ,

President Trump’s immigration executive order has dominated the spotlight this week. Meanwhile, Washington’s so-called “influence industry” – and those seeking to influence the regulation ...

Limiting Access to Lawmakers Would Stifle Representative Democracy
August 29, 2016   •  By Joe Albanese   •  ,

Media commentary about the fine line between political influence and corruption has been plentiful over the past week. Many different writers have expressed discomfort ...

The November Team, et al., v. Joint Commission on Public Ethics

 JCOPE2
March 8, 2016   •  By IFS staff   •  , , , , ,

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) issued a final advisory opinion in January 2016 that would expand the definition of ...

Calzone v. Missouri Ethics Commission
August 31, 2015   •  By IFS staff   •  , ,

Can a state government fine you simply for talking to state legislators? That is the question at the center of Calzone v. Missouri Ethics ...

AFJ, CCP and ACLU Letter: Concerns regarding investigation into the interactions between the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Protection Agency
December 18, 2014   •  By Joe Trotter   •  ,

The undersigned advocacy organizations are writing to express concerns about a portion of your investigation into the interactions between the Natural Resources Defense Council ...

Does Less Income Mean Less Representation?
May 1, 2012   •  By Matt Nese   •  , ,

Do politicians better represent the interests of their higher income constituents? Perhaps because of the increasing costs of campaigns, or the greater participation of high ...

Load more

Get the Latest Updates

© 2024 Institute for Free Speech | 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW | Suite 801 | Washington, DC 20036 | 202-301-3300

The word mark Institute for Free Speech® and its logo of a stylized lantern with a flame are federally registered service marks and are owned by the Institute for Free Speech.