Taking part
protest
Public expression of dissent. Protected by the First Amendment on public streets and parks, subject to neutral rules on time, place, and manner.
In full
Permits may be required for marches that block streets or for large gatherings, and they must be issued under objective standards rather than official discretion over the message. Protesters keep their rights while remaining subject to generally applicable laws, and counterprotest is equally protected. Content-based permit denials fail constitutional review.
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.