[OT] Where can I read about US.Gov law?

[Hellcat]

As a current law student who's over halfway through law school (and fortunately done with constitutional law courses) I can tell you that "learning every detail" about any aspect of the law is futile. Attorneys do not know every detail about their specialty, rather, they know the prominent case and statutory law in their area and most importantly, know how to find any nuances and new law that comes up. The law is always changing, every day, to some degree. It doesn't exist in a vacuum.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Hmm?

If you're neither kidding nor exaggerating about wanting to know "every single detail about the first amendment ", you're much more naïve than I believed you were. It's much too complex to learn every detail, especially in just a few years.

 

[drothgery]

I am not talking about 'private' servers here. I did however mention servers "like this one", where I ment that this was a server. It accidently got there when I rephrased another piece of text.

This web site is on a private server. It's owned by a hosting company, and leased by Morrus. It's publicly available, but it's still privately owned.

The hosting company can refuse to renew Morrus' contract if he posts something that they don't care for, and can terminate his contract if he violates the terms of service (which probably contain some restrictions on what he can use their hosting for). Morrus (and any moderators he chooses) can keep you from posting things if they want to; Morrus is paying for the space, not you.

In much the same fashion, a print newspaper can publish what it wants (within certain guidelines). But they don't have to publish your letter to the editor unless they want to. It's their newspaper.

 

[Henry]

I don't think Charles was insulting you, Psi, but merely point out that for such a simple little statement as the first amendment, the paper trail for understanding its history throughout US. Law practice, as well as any extensions, amendments or abridgements artificially created by legal action is beyond the capability of one human to grasp. It's kind of like saying, "I want to know everything there is to know about 18th through 20th Century art in Europe."

 

[Psionicist]

Oops.

To me it looked pretty small, with around 50 words...

 

[Lizard]

I am not talking about 'private' servers here. I did however mention servers "like this one", where I ment that this was a server. It accidently got there when I rephrased another piece of text.

It might help if you specified exactly what you're trying to find out, what situation you're interested in. As noted, US jurisprudence on 1A cases is massive -- there are dozens of important cases to read through in order to get a sense of the current state of the law, and that's just a beginning. There's a few good cases to start with. Reno vs. ACLU gives a very broad ruling on how the 1A applies to the Internet. (Summary:It does, even more than it applies to television or radio.) Pacifica vs. US lays out the muddled and contradictory (my opinion) doctrine granting the FCC the right to control broadcasters to a limited extent. Brandenburg vs. Ohio lays out the right to advocate, but not incite, criminal activity. Cohen vs. California established the right to 'profane' speech. Miller vs. California set up the currently accepted legal definition of obscenity.

What is the specific issue you are curious about?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Oops.

To me it looked pretty small, with around 50 words...

Yes, it's only 45 words:

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.

However, you didn't ask for the exact text of the amendment, you asked (emphasis mine): "every single detail about the first amendment ". The body of law that has grown up around it is incredible in sheer size.

When I posted what I did, I assumed you were intentionally exaggerating - I wasn't insulting you. Still, what I said remains true: soemone who thinks they can master every detail about the first amendment is naïve.

 

[Mark]

Oops.

To me it looked pretty small, with around 50 words...

Heh heh...

Kinda like me saying I want to know everything about you and thinking it can be accomplished by reading your birth certificate...

And for this scenario, you'd already be a couple of hundred years old and a few million or so people discussing and affecting your existence every year...

Oh...

And none of them completely agree on the nature of your existence.

 

[MythandLore]

Edit: Are there any special laws and rules for the Internet, if the server in question are located in United States?

Not that I've heard of yet.

I and two friends (both are studing to become lawyers) are investigating if you actually can censor things on american servers (like this one, or pretty much 90% of all message boards on the whole internet), LEGALLY or not.

Are your friends in the USA?
As far as I know there have not been cases of "government censorship" of message boards.
I thought Morrus was in the UK?
Isn't his board in the UK too?

 

[drothgery]

Re: Re: [OT] Where can I read about US.Gov law?

Are your friends in the USA?
As far as I know there have not been cases of "government censorship" of message boards.
I thought Morrus was in the UK?
Isn't his board in the UK too?

Morrus is in the UK, but I'm pretty sure the server is in the US.