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Legal Disclaimer

Last updated: 2025 | Version 1.0

First Amendment Protected Speech

This website is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Why This Platform is Protected

Congress Zero is a platform for political expression, civic education, and democratic engagement. The First Amendment protects the right of citizens to discuss, criticize, and engage with government policy and legislation. This includes the right to organize, express opinions on pending legislation, and advocate for political change through peaceful, lawful means.

Legal Precedents Protecting This Expression

  • •
    New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

    Established that the First Amendment protects robust public debate on political issues, even when such debate includes criticism of government officials. The Court held that free discussion of government affairs is essential to self-governance.

  • •
    Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

    Affirmed that political speech is at the core of First Amendment protections. The Court recognized that discussion of public issues and debate on candidates' qualifications are integral to the operation of our system of government.

  • •
    Reno v. ACLU (1997)

    Extended full First Amendment protections to internet speech. The Supreme Court held that online expression receives the same constitutional protection as traditional media, recognizing the internet as a "vast democratic forum."

  • •
    Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

    Reinforced that political speech does not lose First Amendment protection simply because its source is a corporation, association, or other organization. Political speech is "indispensable to decisionmaking in a democracy."

  • •
    Packingham v. North Carolina (2017)

    Recognized that the internet and social media platforms are among the most important places for the exchange of views, calling them "the modern public square" where citizens engage in protected First Amendment activity.

Note: This platform facilitates civic engagement and political discourse. While votes cast here are not official government votes, the act of citizens gathering to express their views on legislation is a fundamental exercise of First Amendment rights that has been protected since the founding of our nation.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

THIS SOFTWARE AND PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" FOR EDUCATIONAL AND DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY, NOR IS IT AFFILIATED WITH, ENDORSED BY, OR CONNECTED TO ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, OR ANY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

NO OFFICIAL STATUS

This project is a prototype, demonstration, and proof-of-concept of a direct democracy platform. It is NOT:

  • Official government technology or software
  • An official voting system
  • A replacement for official government processes
  • Endorsed or approved by any government entity
  • A legally binding voting mechanism
  • An official channel for citizen participation in government

NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

VOTING AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION DISCLAIMER

IMPORTANT: VOTES CAST ON THIS PLATFORM ARE NOT OFFICIAL, LEGALLY BINDING, OR RECOGNIZED BY ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

  • Votes on this platform are purely demonstrative and educational
  • These votes DO NOT constitute official participation in the legislative process
  • This platform DOES NOT replace official channels for contacting representatives
  • Results displayed on this platform DO NOT represent official government data or decisions
  • Users should ALWAYS use official government channels for actual civic participation

DATA ACCURACY DISCLAIMER

While this platform attempts to provide accurate information about congressional bills and legislative data:

  • Data may contain errors, inaccuracies, or be outdated
  • Bill information is sourced from public APIs and may not reflect the most current status
  • Categorizations, summaries, and analyses are automated and may be incorrect
  • The platform makes NO GUARANTEES about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any data
  • Users should verify all information through official government sources before making decisions

NO LIABILITY FOR USE OR MISUSE

BY USING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT:

1. The authors, contributors, and operators of this platform are NOT responsible for:

  • Any decisions made based on information from this platform
  • Any consequences resulting from use or misuse of this platform
  • Any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in the data or software
  • Any security breaches, data loss, or unauthorized access
  • Any legal, financial, or personal consequences of using this platform

2. You use this platform AT YOUR OWN RISK and are solely responsible for:

  • Verifying all information through official sources
  • Understanding that votes are not official or binding
  • Protecting your personal information and account credentials
  • Complying with all applicable laws and regulations

3. The platform may be:

  • Modified, discontinued, or taken offline at any time without notice
  • Subject to bugs, errors, or security vulnerabilities
  • Incomplete or experimental in nature

NO ENDORSEMENT

This platform does NOT endorse, support, or oppose:

  • Any political party, candidate, or ideology
  • Any specific legislation or policy position
  • Any organization or group
  • Any interpretation of legislative data

All content, analyses, and categorizations are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute political advocacy or endorsement.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • Congressional data and bill information are sourced from public government APIs
  • This software is proprietary and protected by copyright
  • Unauthorized copying, modification, distribution, or use is strictly prohibited
  • Users are responsible for complying with all applicable copyright and intellectual property laws

PRIVACY AND DATA

  • This platform may collect and store user data as described in any privacy policy
  • Users are responsible for understanding what data is collected and how it is used
  • The platform makes no guarantees about data security or privacy protection
  • Users should not submit sensitive personal information unless they understand and accept the risks

JURISDICTION AND GOVERNING LAW

This disclaimer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws. Any disputes arising from the use of this platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the appropriate courts.

CHANGES TO DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer may be updated at any time without notice. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

BY USING THIS PLATFORM, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS DISCLAIMER. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, YOU MUST NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE OR PLATFORM.

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