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Abstract: This symposium-like the conference from which it arises-is designed not just for the constitutional scholar but also for those who work in or manage public institutions such as schools, libraries, and museums. My assignment is to give a very brief overview of free speech doctrine in order to set the stage for the articles that follow, some of which assume a basic knowledge of this area of the law. This article is in two parts. Part I, "First Things First about the First Amendment," examines the growth and scope of free speech doctrine. Part II, "A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing," emphasizes that there is no simple formula for determining whether speech regulations comport with the First Amendment.
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