Free Speech Clause

Free speech is the doctrine that allows a citizen to say nearly anything he or she wants about any topic.^{[Citation Needed]} Its basis is the Christian evangelism that characterized the American colonies in the period leading up to the American revolution. Of all the nations of the world, the one which provides the most support for free speech is the United States.

The jury acquittal of John Peter Zenger (1735) in the colony of New York played an important early role in expanding freedom of press and free speech.

It is not a free speech violation to arrest a person for shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire.^expand

Heckling is a gray area in the ethics of free speech. To a certain extent, interrupting a public speech with question or retorts is tolerated. On the other hand, using heckling as a tactic to stop the speaker is not an expression of free speech (on the heckler's part) as much as it is a violation of the speaker's free speech rights.