"The 1st Amendment protects the right to speak, not the right to spend"
- Byron White
About this Quote
The 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution safeguards the right of residents to express themselves easily without worry of government censorship or penalty. This includes the right to speak, write, and release without government interference. Nevertheless, the 1st Amendment does not safeguard the right to invest money on speech. This indicates that the federal government can regulate the quantity of cash that can be invested in political projects, advertising, and other kinds of expression. This is a crucial distinction, as it permits the government to make sure that money is not used to unfairly affect the political process. Justice Byron White's quote reminds us that the 1st Amendment secures the right to speak, however not the right to invest.
About the Author