The passage below about debate is from a 1964 supreme court ruling. debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open and it may well include unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials. how does the u. s. constitution protect this right? the u. s. constitution protects the executive branch from public criticism. the u. s. constitution protects the judicial branch from public criticism. the u. s. constitution provides unlimited protection of individual rights. the u. s. constitution protects the rights of people and the press to speak out.