Which of the following correctly explains how the Supreme Court’s decisions in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman contributed to the right of freedom of speech?(1 point)
Responses
Both decisions protected participants in the civil rights movement from being punished for their civil disobedience.
Both decisions protected participants in the civil rights movement from being punished for their civil disobedience.
Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
Both decisions involved selective incorporation requiring states to protect freedom of speech.
Both decisions involved selective incorporation requiring states to protect freedom of speech.
Both cases ruled that flag burning could be outlawed in places it was considered offensive.
The correct answer is:
Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
The correct answer is: Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
The correct response is:
Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
Explaining how to arrive at the correct answer:
To determine how the Supreme Court's decisions in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman contributed to the right of freedom of speech, we need to examine the details of these cases.
In Texas v. Johnson (1989), the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning as a form of political protest is protected under the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech. The Court found that burning the U.S. flag is considered symbolic speech, which is a form of expression protected by the Constitution.
Similarly, in United States v. Eichman (1990), the Court reaffirmed the protection of flag burning as symbolic speech. This case arose after the Flag Protection Act of 1989 was enacted, making it illegal to burn or otherwise desecrate the U.S. flag. The Court struck down the law, stating that it violated the First Amendment.
Therefore, both decisions in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest. This recognition affirmed and further supported the right to freedom of speech by establishing that certain forms of expressive conduct, even if controversial or offensive to some, are protected by the Constitution.