Eight Values of Free Expression

Our freedom of speech can be put into question over a variety of things. However, the eight values of free expression promote how important the protection of our first amendment rights actually is. The eight values include the marketplace of ideas, participation in self-government, stable change, individual self-fulfillment, check on government power, promote tolerance, promote innovation, and protect dissent. 

I think the most important value is the check on government power. Our government was created on principles to not mimic the British government. The founding fathers did not want a monarchy; therefore, they created a government that has checks and balances.

Checks and balances are the system within government that separates the powers between the three branches of government. It allows each system to need at least one other branch to carry out another action. This includes the Legislative branch needing approval of the Executive branch to put a new law in place. Another example is if the Executive branch nominates a candidate for the supreme court, the Legislative branch needs to vote to accept that nomination and allow the candidate to become a justice. 

Without this system, it is easy for one of the branches to obtain too much power. If this occurs, we go against what the founding fathers initially intended the country to be like. They escaped the monarchy, and worked hard to ensure we could have a government that didn't operate the same. 

A value that I also believe is important is participation in self-government. Having political knowledge is a very important set of information to have. Without knowledge of candidates or political issues that are currently impacting our government, votes cannot make informed decisions on what to vote for, or some may even elect not to vote at all. 

For citizens to be able to make informed decisions, there are multiple factors that go into candidate and policy research. First source is the news. Voters get their information from a variety of news outlets, anchors, journalists, so some of the information may be skewed and biased, but people are making the effort to hear information about what directly affects their country. Another source is friends and family. Those who you surround yourself with often impact your beliefs and views on issues that also surround you. So gaining the correct information before elections, as well as participating in government is a great and important way to use your first amendment right. 

Another important value is protecting dissent. As Americans, the right to protest is protected under our first amendment rights in multiple aspects. The first amendment says, "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 freedom of petition and assembly are ways to speak your mind, even if you disagree with the majority and even the government. Freedom of petition is "the primary right, the right peaceably to assemble a subordinate and instrumental right," according to cornel Law School. Where the freedom of assembly is "the right to assemble together peaceably with other citizens," Cornell adds.