The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. It prohibits any laws that establish a national religion, impede
the free exercise of religion, abridge the freedom of speech, infringe upon the freedom of the press, interfere with the right to peaceably assemble, or prohibit citizens from petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted into the Bill of Rights in 1791. The most basic component of freedom of expression is the right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech may be exercised in a direct (words) or a symbolic (actions) way. Freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without government interference
or regulation. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for interference with the right of free speech when it attempts to regulate the content of the speech. Generally, a person
cannot be held liable, either criminally or civilly for anything written or spoken about a person or topic, so long as it is truthful or based on an honest opinion and such statements.

Definition
“Freedom of speech” refers to the inalienable right of all citizens of a nation or country to express one’s own opinion without fear of reprisal. The term “speech” can encompass a wide range of personal expression, from actual verbal discourse to writing and distributing pamphlets, to protesting, and – in more recent interpretations – even spending money.

This is usually codified in the basic laws of a nation. For example, in the U.S., it’s guaranteed in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as one of the first ten amendments that make up the U.S. Bill of Rights. Assuming a country guarantees a basic freedom of speech, this usually exempts any of its citizens from being arrested, censored, harassed, punished, or in any way persecuted for expressing themselves, however
they choose to do so.

First Amendment
In the United States the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech for all U.S. citizens within the confines of U.S. borders. It states: 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.