Texas citizens create a limited government through republicanism by electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf. These representatives are responsible for upholding the Constitution and protecting individual rights, while also ensuring that government power is kept in check. By participating in the democratic process and holding their elected officials accountable, citizens help prevent government overreach and promote the principles of limited government. Through the practice of republicanism, Texas citizens contribute to a system of government that is limited in its scope and respects the rights and freedoms of its people.
Over the past century, Black Americans and Mexican Americans have overcome many obstacles to achieve and protect equal rights. In 3–5 sentences, evaluate which policy, movement, or Supreme Court case you feel was the most significant in the fight for equality.(4 points)
In the case of Texas v. Johnson, the state of Texas claimed that desecrating the American flag was not protected speech under the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that it was. In 1–2 sentences, explain why the Supreme Court made this decision.(2 points)
The Supreme Court made this decision because flag desecration was determined to be a form of symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free expression, even if the expression is offensive or controversial. The ruling affirmed the principle that political dissent and expression of ideas, even if unpopular, are fundamental rights in a democratic society.
In my opinion, the most significant policy, movement, or Supreme Court case in the fight for equality for Black Americans and Mexican Americans was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and played a crucial role in combating segregation and ensuring equal rights for all Americans. The Civil Rights Movement, led by influential figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, also played a pivotal role in raising awareness and mobilizing communities to demand equality and justice. Additionally, Supreme Court cases like Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Hernandez v. Texas (1954) were instrumental in challenging the status quo and laying the groundwork for further progress towards racial and ethnic equality in the United States.
