Amendment I

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The first ten Amendments (Bill of Rights) were ratified effective December 15, 1791.

In my own words:

Congress:

• must not establish a national religion by any law, and
• must allow us to freely worship according to the beliefs of any religion, and
• must allow us to speak our minds freely and in public, and
• must allow all the media - including using the Internet - to publish and broadcast without censorship, as well as give us all free access to all the media - even foreign media, and
• must allow us to assemble peaceably, and
• must allow us to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This amendment broadly covers issues that have made the United States different from virtually all nations in 1791 and many nations even today.

In general, rights in European nations resemble the rights of our First Amendment although there are significant exceptions.

I've posted an item of how the Queen (or King) of England is the 'Supreme Governor of the Church of England.'

No president of ours would be the legal head of any religion or denomination. On the other hand, our presidents and all government officials may worship as they please, or not worship at all.

I've also posted an item showing the effort that our armed forces make to have chaplains for every religion, even when few of our service people belong to these religions.

I feel that both of these items demonstrate that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."