# Is it legal for the US government to ban words? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729 "2017-12-17T20:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/1 "2017-12-17T20:16:29Z")
Recently the [Trump Administration published some words that the CDC could no longer use.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/health/cdc-banned-words/index.html) Words like “Transgender, Fetus” etc… Is this legal? Is it not unconstitutional? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/2 "2017-12-17T20:27:16Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Recently the [Trump Administration published some words that the CDC could no longer use.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/health/cdc-banned-words/index.html) Words like “Transgender, Fetus” etc… > > Is this legal? Yes. > [@](#): > > Is it not unconstitutional? No. The government has the right to regulate how its own agencies communicate. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/3 "2017-12-17T20:28:53Z")
Dem’s fightin’ woids! ETA: Fire. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/4 "2017-12-17T20:29:09Z")
The executive branch made a directive about what an agency controlled by the executive branch can put in its official correspondence. It might be stupid but it’s not illegal. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/5 "2017-12-17T20:43:19Z")
I assume they’re only banning them in official publications. It’s possible the President as the head of the Executive Branch has ultimate authority over final edit. So I guess he can use or instruct others to use what words he wishes. But I don’t know. To be helpful to those affected, I suggest: Fetus =\> “Advanced-stage embryo” or “post-embryo” vulnerable =\> susceptible science-based =\> “scientifically accepted as true (by most except idiots)” evidence based =\> fact based transgendered =\> transgender (as I understand transgender people prefer that form rather than the “ed” form) diversity =\> melange (Trump probably doesn’t even know that word) entitlement =\> depends on usage but “human right” in some cases “earned” in others. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/6 "2017-12-17T20:48:38Z")
NO it is the opposite of legal :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/7 "2017-12-17T21:03:58Z")
The NYT is reporting that this was a strategy by mid-level career employees (i.e., most likely Democrats) with regard to internal budget requests. It has nothing to do with scientific discourse or communications with the public, and it was not an action by the Trump administration. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/8 "2017-12-17T21:08:00Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > NO > > it is the opposite of legal :mad: Says who? ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/9 "2017-12-17T21:57:05Z")
A long time ago, IIRC, California decided that Master and Slave were no longer going to be words that could be used in internal memos to describe “Primary Hard Drive or Primary Network node” and the Secondary one attached to it. I don’t know what came of that – if the whole world had to stop using the terminology, or just California state IT memos, of if it just got dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/10 "2017-12-17T22:03:22Z")
For decades (maybe even still today?) the FCC has threatened & punished radio & TV stations that broadcast over the air any of the ‘7 dirty words’ made famous by [George Carlin in his routine](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwifxKn0hZLYAhVp04MKHShSDFsQtwIINDAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvbZhpf3sQxQ&usg=AOvVaw3fzJmhXEW4d00o9eiKy6tM). That appears to be legal; it’s been enforced against stations. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/11 "2017-12-17T22:09:09Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > NO > > it is the opposite of legal :mad: On what basis is it illegal? (Hint: The First Amendment doesn’t apply here.) ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/12 "2017-12-17T22:22:39Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The NYT is reporting that this was a strategy by mid-level career employees (i.e., most likely Democrats) with regard to internal budget requests. It has nothing to do with scientific discourse or communications with the public, and it was not an action by the Trump administration. Can you point us to the NYT report stating this? I just had a look and couldn’t find it. I would be reassured if the denials by HHS and CDC expressly used the words in question. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/13 "2017-12-17T23:05:04Z")
For what it’s worth… Here a link to a thread I started about this that got closed. It offers a peek into the right’s view. Too bad it got closed, it was illuminating to hear their justifications. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=844917](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=844917) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/14 "2017-12-18T01:59:52Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > NO > > it is the opposite of legal :mad: GQ is for facts. Where are yours? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/15 "2017-12-18T04:13:07Z")
I already placed an order for the t-shirt. 🆒 [https://www.raygunsite.com/collections/home-page/products/7-offensive-words](https://www.raygunsite.com/collections/home-page/products/7-offensive-words) ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/16 "2017-12-18T23:09:41Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Recently the [Trump Administration published some words that the CDC could no longer use.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/health/cdc-banned-words/index.html) Words like “Transgender, Fetus” etc… > > Is this legal? Is it not unconstitutional? It’s not a law, so it’s legal. If my boss tells me not to use the word “funtacular” on a document, I don’t use the word. If I do, I (could) get fired. That’s what’s happening here. The CDC’s in the Executive Branch, so the President is their boss. That’s where this directive is coming from. It’s not a “law -\> citizen” interaction, but a “boss -\> employee” interaction. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/17 "2017-12-19T00:19:45Z")
It doesn’t appear to be coming from the President. It was apparently a bright idea concocted by managers within HHS. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/18 "2017-12-19T00:36:16Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > A long time ago, IIRC, California decided that Master and Slave were no longer going to be words that could be used in internal memos to describe “Primary Hard Drive or Primary Network node” and the Secondary one attached to it. I don’t know what came of that – if the whole world had to stop using the terminology, or just California state IT memos, of if it just got dropped. You still might see the terminology in a BIOS, but it’s no longer used due to changing technology, not political correctness. IDE/PATA cables had 3 connectors - to mobo, master, and slave. SATA cables only have 2. SATA has been the standard for almost 2 decades. Wikipedia says LA county made a request to stop using the terms. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/19 "2017-12-19T04:05:54Z")
Obama “banned” the use of “negro” and “oriental” in the same manner. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729/20 "2017-12-19T13:33:58Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Obama “banned” the use of “negro” and “oriental” in the same manner. There’s this site called Snopes out there that can help with [these things](https://www.snopes.com/president-obama-bans-the-words-negro-and-oriental/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-the-us-government-to-ban-words/804729.md?page=2)