The First Amendment states the following:
"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."
There are several rights that are guaranteed in this amendment and that could be stated as a basic constitutional principle. This amendment deals with freedom of religion, as well as freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to assemble. All of these are considered basic constitutional principles for two main reasons. First, these are basic rights because they protect the most important liberties that people should have in a democracy. Second, these are basic rights because they provide a basis for many other rights protected by the Constitution.
