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The following are selected historical and modern documents about freedom of speech:

U.S. Documents

Alexander Hamilton summation to jury at Peter Zenger libel trial (1735)
Truth is a defense to the charge of libel, and the publication of truth a defense against tyranny

U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1 (1791)
Prohibits federal legislation abridging freedom of speech, religion, assembly and petition.

U.S. Constitution, Amendment 14 (1868)
Extends constitutional protection of fundamental rights to actions by state governments

AAUP Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure (1940)
Model principles promulgated to protect academic freedom and tenure as a means of securing the free search for and exposition of truth.

International Documents

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Art. 2
Defines as fundamental the freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression.

American Declaration Of The Rights And Duties Of Man (Organization of American States), Article IV
Asserts for every person the right to express and disseminate ideas.

African [Banjul] Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Organization of African Unity), Article 9
Claims for all the right to receive information and to express and disseminate his or her opinions within the law.

Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (Nineteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers), Article 22
Asserts a right to express freely one’s opinions in such manner as would not be contrary to the principles of the Shari'ah.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 19 (1948)
Asserts for everyone the rights of freedom of opinion and expression through any media regardless of frontiers.

European Convention on Human Rights Art. 10 (1950)
Details the right to freedom of expression, subject to certain restrictions as may be necessary in a democratic society.

Inter-American Democratic Charter, Article 4 (Organization of American States) (2001)
Holds that freedom of expression and of the press are essential components of the exercise of democracy.