Time, Place, and Manner

Time, Place, and Manner for Freedom of Speech

The First Amendment requires that the government not discriminate against particular viewpoints.  The Supreme Court has, however, upheld the idea that speech may be regulated under “Time, Place, and Manner” regulations.  The burden of such regulations is still fairly high, meaning that the government is required to show that their restrictions on speech are:

1. 1. Content neutral (that the government does not restrict content-specific viewpoints);
   2. Narrowly tailored to serve a governmental interest (i.e., cannot be overly broad to regulate more than what is necessary to achieve government interest like, for example, public safety);
   3. Apply alternative means to express ideas.

At UMaine, for example, the time, place, and manner regulations are a reflection of the value of encouraging diverse ideas, community engagement on campus, and academic freedom while also preserving interests including campus safety.  See the Free Speech Policy in the Student Handbook.