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 Michigan, 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 Michigan have the right to gather for peaceful protest, public discourse, and other expressive activities that fall under the umbrella of First Amendment purposes. However, this right does not extend to assemblies that are for purely social reasons or that aim to engage in or promote illegal activities. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized a right to freedom of association and belief, which is derived from the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. This right protects individuals and groups in Michigan from being compelled by the government to disclose their membership lists, and it also prevents the government from denying benefits based on an individual's current or past membership in a particular group. However, these rights are subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that can be imposed by the state, provided they are content-neutral, narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest, and leave open ample alternative channels for communication.