The Constitution's Speech and Debate clause is important because
it protects members of Congress from being questioned in a court of
law about any particular aspect of a speech that is made. No
evidence presented before a court of law may be a speech made
before either the Senate or the House of Representatives under this
provision. Such evidence must be tossed out as in violation of the
Constitution.
It is important to note, however, that the Supreme Court has
eliminated from protection by this clause any statement made by the
Representative or Senator in a press release or in a speech made
outside of the meeting chambers of Congress. The Court has ruled
that these actions do not fall under the "deliberative" aspect of
Congress, which is why the provision came into play. Rather, they
fall under the "informing" aspect, whereby the public is informed
of actions of Congress, thus exempting them from the Speech and
Debate Clause.
