What term describes government action that stops expression before it occurs, such as prohibiting a demonstration?

• A. Censorship
• B. Content-based restrictions
• C. Prior restraint
• D. Injunction

Answer: (C)

The situation described is about stopping speech or assembly before it happens, which is known as prior restraint. This term captures the timing and impact: the government acts to prevent expression from occurring in the first place, like banning a demonstration before it takes place. Censorship is a broader idea of suppressing expression, and isn’t limited to the preemptive timing. Content-based restrictions focus on limiting speech because of its content, and are evaluated under different legal standards. An injunction is a court order, a tool that can block actions, but it’s not the specific label for pre-event suppression itself. So the best description for preventing a demonstration before it occurs is prior restraint.