The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law abridging (curtailing) the right of the people to peaceably assemble. And the U.S. Supreme Court has determined that a right to freedom of association and belief is implicit in the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. But this right to freedom of assembly is limited to First Amendment purposes and does not include a right to assemble for social purposes or to engage in or promote illegal activities. And when there is a right of association, the government may not require the group to disclose the identity of its members, or deny government benefits on the basis of current or past membership in a group.

In Maryland, as in all states, the right to peaceably assemble is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This means that individuals and groups in Maryland have the right to gather for purposes related to the expression of their views, such as protests, marches, and rallies, without undue interference from the government. The U.S. Supreme Court has also recognized a broader right to freedom of association and belief, which is protected by the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. However, this right is not absolute and does not extend to assemblies for purely social purposes or for the promotion of illegal activities. Additionally, while the government cannot force a group to disclose its members' identities or deny benefits based on membership in a particular group, reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on assemblies may be imposed to ensure public safety and order, provided they are content-neutral and narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest.