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first amendment to the united states constitution

Federal appeals court upholds injunction against Montana’s drag ban

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge’s injunction against House Bill 359, passed by the Montana Legislature in 2023, which banned drag performers and popular events like “drag story hour” under threat of criminal penalties, saying it was likely a violation of First Amendment

Transphobic Legislation is a Violation of Liberty

Transphobic Legislation is a Violation of Liberty

Historically, U.S. LGBTQIA+ citizens — especially transgender people — have been victims of hate crimes, systemic oppression and social ostracization. Some progress has been made toward legal and social equality in recent decades, but as President Donald Trump moves through his second term, transgender citizens are facing new legislative setbacks, going

What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today

What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, debates about religious freedom continue to occupy the center of American public life. Since taking office for a second time, the Trump administration has issued a number of executive orders on religion that raise new questions about

Civil liberties groups say state Supreme Court wrongly decided free speech case

The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression are asking the Montana Supreme Court to reconsider a 2003 decision as it relates to a current free speech case because they said it sets a dangerous precedent by placing addition hurdles for speech to

When Washington and the states are in conflict, the ultimate winner is not always certain

When Washington and the states are in conflict, the ultimate winner is not always certain

The Trump administration’s aggressive policies on immigration are receiving pushback not just on Capitol Hill but across the country. Democratic leaders in multiple states are refusing to cooperate with immigration arrests. In response, the federal government is refusing to share evidence with state investigators in the deaths of Renee

Trump’s intemperate criticisms threaten judicial independence | David Adler

Last week, in International Resources v. Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, declared that President Trump had exceeded his statutory authority by using an emergency statute, the “International Economic Emergency Powers Act,” to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional

50 years ago, the Supreme Court broke campaign finance regulation

50 years ago, the Supreme Court broke campaign finance regulation

In 2024, spending on federal elections totaled almost US$15 billion in the United States. The United Kingdom, in contrast, spent approximately $129 million on its 2024 parliamentary elections – less than 1% of 2024 U.S. spending – despite having a population one-fifth the size of the U.S. Indeed,