Classroom Resources By Topic

First Amendment: Assembly and Petition Clauses O

Introduction
  • Why did the Founding generation include assembly and petition rights in the First Amendment?
  • How did the Founding generation exercise their assembly and petition rights?
  • How have constitutional movements throughout history used assembly and petition rights to push for constitutional change?
  • How has the Supreme Court addressed assembly rights over time?
  • What are some of the key constitutional debates over assembly and petition rights?
  • How can you assert your rights to freedom of assembly and petition today?

Students explore the founding era legacies of assembly and petition and how those legacies informed the creation of these often-overlooked aspects of the First Amendment. They will complete a close reading activity to compare and contrast ideas presented in the Interactive Constitution and describe the ways these rights have been interpreted by the Court and used by citizens at various points throughout U.S. history. They will evaluate the constitutionality of assembly and petition rights in the modern era through an in-class, civil dialogue addressing questions about time, place, and manner restrictions; counter-protests; protests on college campuses; and other relevant assembly and petition questions.

Big Questions

Video: First Amendment: Assembly and Petition - Advanced Class
Video: First Amendment: Assembly and Petition - Introductory Class
Video: First Amendment: Assembly and Petition with Zach Greenberg
Video: Assembly and Petition from Khan Academy
-

Classroom Materials

Assembly and Petition - Briefing Document

Download via Google Docs

Download

Slides

Download via Google Slides

Download

Worksheets

Download via Google Docs
Advanced Version

Download

Advanced Version

Download

Lesson Plan

PDF

Download

Explore First Amendment: Assembly and Petition Clauses O Questions

More from the National Constitution Center
Constitution 101 logo
Constitution 101

Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.

Photo of student watching online program
Media Library

Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.

Painting of Founders meeting
Founders’ Library

Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.

Education