Protected speech refers to forms of expression that are safeguarded by the First Amendment, such as opinions, beliefs, and political statements. Unprotected speech, on the other hand, includes categories like obscenity, incitement to violence, and defamation, which are not shielded by the law and can be subject to legal restrictions.
The Courts have ruled over time that most, but not all, speech is protected by the Court system. The unprotected forms of speech are generally * sedition (presenting a clear threat to overthrow the government), * obscenity (mostly just hard-core or child porn) * "fighting words," (those which incite a hostile reaction) * defamation (slander or libel against a public figure), * some commercial speech (what businesses advertise, etc) (taken from RioSalado Online, POS222 American Constitution)
It is very important that some speech be unprotected. If something like slander were legal, then it would be free reign for those trying to spread outright lies about innocent individuals.
The Supreme Court has identified three types of speech: fully protected speech, which includes political or artistic expression and is protected by the First Amendment; partially protected speech, which includes commercial speech and is subject to certain restrictions; and unprotected speech, such as obscenity, defamation, and speech that incites violence, which is not protected by the First Amendment.
The word "distinction" is a noun. It refers to a difference or contrast between similar things, or a recognition of excellence or uniqueness.
censorship of information before it is published is called
Speech plus conduct refers to the idea that certain forms of speech, when combined with accompanying actions, may lose protection under the First Amendment. This concept is used to determine whether certain expressive activities, such as demonstrations or protests, are protected or unprotected based on the context in which they occur.
Sedition
political speech
symbolic speech.
The most protected and highly regarded form of speech is core political speech. This is a type of speech that is purely expressive in its nature and has a high importance to a functional republic.
The First Amendment of the constitution gives the citizens the right to the freedom of speech. This right does not extend to limited protected speech which include threats and intimidation, slander, or conflict with governmental interests.
Like written or spoken speech, your words in email are protected by the first amendment. Just like other forms of speech, certain types of statements are not protected, such as threats.