The First Amendment
Go beyond the five freedoms to understand the legal tests, historical tensions, and philosophical foundations that define American liberty.
Like Duolingo, but for The First Amendment. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
24 levels across 3 sections, about 48 minutes end to end, roughly 10 days at five minutes a day. It moves through The Boundaries of Expression; Institutions and the Public Square; and Church, State, and Theory. It assumes you already know the basics.
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Key ideas in The First Amendment
- The distinction between state action and private policy
- Recognizing symbolic speech as protected expression
- The First Amendment prohibits 'content-based' restrictions on speech
- The government cannot ban speech simply because the audience finds it offensive
- Public forums must remain open to all speakers regardless of their message
- Unprotected categories are narrowly defined by the Supreme Court
- The First Amendment does not protect speech that causes direct, specific harm
- The Miller Test is used to determine if material is legally 'obscene'
- Distinguishing protected speech from specific unprotected categories
- Applying the principle of content neutrality to offensive speech
- Viewpoint discrimination occurs when the government picks sides in a debate
- The First Amendment requires the government to be 'viewpoint neutral'
- Strict scrutiny is applied to any law that targets a specific opinion
- Identifying viewpoint discrimination as the most severe violation
- Brandenburg requires speech to be directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action
- True threats require an intent to place the victim in fear of bodily harm or death
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives The First Amendment the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
Which of these non-verbal actions would most likely be protected as 'expressive conduct'?
Get it right to open this lesson and 23 more in the app.
How to learn The First Amendment, step by step
Go in order. 24 short levels across 3 sections, about 48 minutes in all, five minutes a day.
- 1
The Boundaries of Expression
- Speech in Daily Life
- When Speech Becomes Illegal
- Protests and Public Spaces
- 2
Institutions and the Public Square
- Freedom of the Press
- Student Rights and Symbolic Speech
- 3
Church, State, and Theory
- The Establishment Clause
- Free Exercise of Religion
- The Philosophy of Liberty
3 sections · 8 units · 24 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
Questions about The First Amendment
How do I learn The First Amendment?
Go in order: start with The Boundaries of Expression, then Institutions and the Public Square, then Church, State, and Theory. On Tomo that's 24 short levels, about 48 minutes in all, played five minutes a day. Start free and play the first level in under a minute.
Is there a Duolingo-style app for The First Amendment?
Yes. Tomo works like Duolingo: short daily lessons, streaks and quick quizzes. The First Amendment is one of its free courses, and you can type any other topic to get a course of your own.
Is The First Amendment free?
Yes. The First Amendment is playable on Tomo's free plan, which doesn't expire. No credit card, no waitlist. Download the app and start your first lesson.
How long does it take to learn The First Amendment?
24 levels across 3 sections, about 48 minutes of play in total. It's built for five minutes a day, so you finish it a little at a time instead of all at once.
Do I need any background to start The First Amendment?
No. It's pitched at an intermediate level, so it starts where you are and builds up. If you can tap a phone, you can start.
Tomo is in ChatGPT
Tomo is also a ChatGPT plugin: the same playable courses, built and played inside your chat.
Add Tomo to ChatGPT- What to ask
- “Make me a Tomo course on black holes.” “Turn this chat into a Tomo course.”
- What you get
- Quick questions with instant feedback, hearts and stars, ready to play in about a minute.
- Where it goes
- No sign-up to start. Connect your Tomo account and your streak carries on in the app.
You pick the voice
The First Amendment is taught in the Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
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Start The First Amendment today.
Download Tomo, search The First Amendment, and play your first lesson in under a minute.