are there any limits on freedom of speech
United States free speech exceptions
The most complex special capacity of the government is when it functions , in one way or another , as the Subsidizer of the speech in question . As a general rule , the government can itself say whatever it wants to , even if this `` favors one viewpoint over another '' . But , the government may not impose conditions on how subsidy recipients spend money they get from other sources . If the government is using the speakers to express its own message , it is constitutional . But this analysis changes if the government is trying to encourage a `` diversity of private views indiscriminately '' . If it is indiscriminate , then under Legal Services Corp. v. Velazquez ( 2001 ) , the government must be acting in a viewpoint - neutral way . However , if the government is basing some judgment of `` quality '' on the views , then only `` invidious viewpoint discrimination '' is barred .
The most complex special capacity of the government is when it functions , in one way or another , as the Subsidizer of the speech in question . As a general rule , the government can itself say whatever it wants to , even if this `` favors one viewpoint over another '' . But , the government may not impose conditions on how subsidy recipients spend money they get from other sources . If the government is using the speakers to express its own message , it is constitutional . But this analysis changes if the government is trying to encourage a `` diversity of private views indiscriminately '' . If it is indiscriminate , then under Legal Services Corp. v. Velazquez ( 2001 ) , the government must be acting in a viewpoint - neutral way . However , if the government is basing some judgment of `` quality '' on the views , then only `` invidious viewpoint discrimination '' is barred .