American Government / Unit 3 Gov 109 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Freedom of the Press and Prior Restraint
Captions available
The idea
Freedom of the press forbids government censorship of publication in advance, a practice called prior restraint, except in rare cases.
In practice
Near v. Minnesota (1931) struck down a state gag on a newspaper.
Where people slip
Publishers can still answer for what they print afterward — defamation law survives the clause.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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