Final answer:
Commercial speech may be restricted if the restriction advances a substantial governmental interest, unrelated to suppressing expression and if the restriction imposed is not greater than necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Commercial speech can be restricted, but such restrictions must serve a substantial role in advancing a legitimate governmental interest. Under First Amendment jurisprudence, it is recognized that while commercial speech is protected, it is not given the same strength of protection as political speech or other forms of expression. For a restriction to be valid, it must meet several criteria: it must serve an important or substantial governmental interest, be unrelated to the suppression of free expression, and impose no greater restriction on First Amendment freedoms than is essential.
Laws that restrict speech must also be content neutral unless a significant public interest justifies a content-based limitation, such as in cases concerning obscenity or subversive speech. Content restrictions are permissible in certain venues like public schools or courtrooms to maintain order and decorum. Nonetheless, political speech remains highly protected, signifying the importance of discourse in a democratic society.
Overall, the correct answer to the question would be that commercial speech may be restricted as long as the restriction advances a substantial governmental interest.