What does the Miller test primarily assess?

The Miller test, established by the Supreme Court in Miller v. California (1973), primarily assesses whether speech meets the legal criteria for obscenity. To determine if material is considered obscene, the test applies a three-pronged approach, which evaluates whether an average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find the work as a whole appeals to prurient interest. Moreover, it examines if the material depicts sexual conduct in a way that is specifically defined by applicable state law and assesses whether the work lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

In this context, the focus on whether speech is obscene according to legal standards is crucial, as obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment. Therefore, the Miller test serves as a legal framework to limit and define what constitutes obscene material that can be regulated or restricted within the bounds of legal standards. The other aspects mentioned in the other choices do not align with the core purpose of the Miller test, which is specifically centered around obscenity within legal parameters.