This question has two parts.
Explain how the Tinker v Des Moines and Texas v Johnson Supreme Court cases are related. Explain the effects) these cases have on
US citizens.
(4 points) Short
The Tinker v Des Moines and Texas v Johnson Supreme Court cases are related in that they both deal with First Amendment rights, specifically freedom of speech.
In Tinker v Des Moines (1969), the Supreme Court ruled that students wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War constituted symbolic speech and were protected under the First Amendment. The case affirmed the rights of students to express their opinions through peaceful protest, even within the confines of a public school.
In Texas v Johnson (1989), the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag as an act of political protest was also protected under the First Amendment. The Court stated that even though flag burning might be offensive or disrespectful to some, it was a form of expressive conduct that deserved constitutional protection.
Both cases had significant effects on US citizens. They reinforced and expanded the rights of individuals, including students, to freely express their opinions, even if those opinions were controversial or unpopular. These cases established that peaceful protests and symbolic speech are protected forms of expression, even in public schools or involving the burning of national symbols. As a result, citizens have the right to engage in different forms of dissent and protest without fear of government censorship or suppression.
Shorter
The Tinker v Des Moines and Texas v Johnson Supreme Court cases are related because they both involve freedom of speech. Tinker v Des Moines affirmed the rights of students to peacefully protest, while Texas v Johnson protected the act of burning the American flag as a form of political expression. These cases had a significant impact on US citizens by expanding their rights to express their opinions, even if controversial or unpopular. They established that peaceful protests and symbolic speech are protected forms of expression.
The Tinker v Des Moines and Texas v Johnson Supreme Court cases are related because they both address the issue of free speech and expression under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
In the Tinker v Des Moines case, which took place in 1969, a group of students decided to wear black armbands to protest against the Vietnam War. The school suspended the students for their protest, claiming that it disrupted the learning environment. However, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students, establishing an important precedent for student free speech rights. The Court held that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate," as long as the speech does not cause substantial disruption to the school's operations.
The Texas v Johnson case, which occurred in 1989, involved a man named Gregory Lee Johnson who burned an American flag during a protest at the Republican National Convention. He was arrested and convicted by state law for flag desecration. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Johnson's act of burning the flag was a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. This case reinforced the principle that even offensive or controversial forms of expression are protected under the Constitution.
The effects of these cases on US citizens are significant. They have helped define and protect the right to freedom of speech and expression. Both cases demonstrate that individuals, including students, have the right to express their beliefs and engage in symbolic acts of protest, even if they are unpopular or controversial. These rulings have safeguarded the rights of citizens to criticize the government, express dissenting opinions, and engage in peaceful protest.
Furthermore, these cases have established important legal precedents that have been cited in subsequent free speech cases. They have shaped the interpretation and application of the First Amendment and serve as landmark decisions in the ongoing defense of constitutional rights in the United States.