Dictionary Search: "public forum"

designated public forum

Public property that has not traditionally been open for public assembly and debate but that the government has opened for use by the public as a place for expressive activity, such as a publicuniversity facility or a publicly owned theater. ( Unlike a traditional public forum, the government does not have to retain the open character of a designated public forum. Also, the subject matter of the expression permitted in a designated public forum may be limited to accord with the character of the forum; content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions are generally permissible. But any prohibition based on the content of the expression must be narrowly drawn to effectuate a compelling state interest, as with a traditional public forum. - Also termed limited public forum; nontraditional public forum.

limited public forum

See designated public forum under PUBLIC FORUM. limited-purpose public figure See PUBLIC FIGURE.

nonpublic forum

Constitutional law. Public property that is not designated or traditionally considered an arena for public communication, such as a jail or a military base. ( The government's means of regulating a nonpublic forum need only be reasonable and viewpoint-neutral to be constitutional. Cf. PUBLIC FORUM.

nontraditional public forum

See designated public forum under PUBLIC FORUM.

public forum

Constitutional law. Public property where people traditionally gather to express ideas and exchange views. ( To be con stitutional, the government's regulation of a public forum must be narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest and must usu. be limited to time-place-or-manner restrictions. Cf. NONPUBLIC FORUM.

traditional public forum

Public property that has by long tradition - as opposed to governmental designation - been used by the public for assembly and expression, such as a public street, public sidewalk, or public park. ( To be constitutional, the government's content-neutral restrictions of the time, place, or manner of expression must be narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest, and leave open ample alternative channels of communication. Any government regulation of expression that is based on the content of the expression must meet the even higher constitutional test of being narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.