A governmental restriction on speech or publication before its actual expression. • Prior restraints violate the First Amendment unless the speech is obscene, is defamatory, or creates a clear and present danger to society. [Cases: Constitutional Law 90(3). C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 502, 542, 546–550.]
prior restraint. A governmental restriction on speech or publication before its actual expression. • Prior restraints violate the First Amendment unless the speech is obscene, is defamatory, or creates a clear and present danger to society. [Cases: Constitutional Law 90(3). C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 502, 542, 546–550.] “The legal doctrine of prior restraint (or formal
prior restraint 〈美〉先行制止 指在言论实际发表前政府官员即对其言论或公开予以限制的制度。美国宪法第一条修正案规定不得剥夺公民的言论自由。先行制止的办法冒极大的违宪风险，政府必须负责证明其必要性。先行制止只有三种情况才被认可，即：对国家构成「明显的、现实的危险」，侵犯个人隐私或淫秽出版物。 (→censor; censorship)