The First Amendment: A Primer

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:

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.

Note the first word, “Congress.” It makes no mention of any other institution, except for “the Government” in the last clause (capitalized as a holdover from the Germanic roots of English). That’s a hint.