The establishment clause prohibits the government from establishing or advancing religion or a particular religious sect. The free exercise clause prevents the government from unreasonably impinging on religious practices. The First Amendment also protects freedom of speech . Like the free-press protections, free speech is deemed vital to the function of a democracy. Speech can be written, spoken, symbolic, or can even be conduct.
Some speech is unprotected, such as obscenity.
Regulations which restrict how, where, and when speech is communicated are more acceptable than restrictions based on the content of the speech. Grand jury proceedings are the process by which a suspect in a federal felony case is charged with a crime. This charge, called an indictment, is required by the Fifth Amendment. Grand jury proceedings are not like trials because they only consider whether there is enough evidence to bring the charge. Prisoners' Rights Prisoners' rights are not as broad as the rights of persons who are not detained.