Question

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?

Answer 1

The Supreme Court's decisions in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman affirmed that symbolic speech, such as flag burning, is protected under the First Amendment as a form of political expression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Supreme Court’s decisions in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman contributed significantly to the right of freedom of speech by setting legal precedents that protected various forms of symbolic speech. In Texas v. Johnson (1989), the Court held that the act of burning the American flag as a form of protest was protected by the First Amendment. This action was recognized as a form of political expression, regardless of its unpopularity or the disagreement of the audience with the idea being expressed. Following this, the United States v. Eichman case in 1990 reaffirmed this principle by invalidating a federal law that criminalized flag desecration, reinforcing the notion that symbolic speech is fundamentally protected under the First Amendment.

Answer 2

The statement that 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 is A. Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting the act of burning the U.S. flag as a form of expressive speech under the First Amendment. These landmark cases contributed significantly to the right of freedom of speech by affirming that symbolic speech, even if controversial or offensive, is constitutionally protected. The Court asserted that the government cannot prohibit expression simply because society finds it disagreeable or unpatriotic.

This protection extended beyond the specific act of flag burning, establishing a broader principle that symbolic forms of expression are safeguarded under the freedom of speech clause. The decisions emphasized that the government's role should not involve suppressing certain viewpoints, even if they challenge societal norms or patriotic symbols.

Correct answer: A. Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.

Complete question:

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)

• A. Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.
• B. Both decisions involved selective incorporation requiring states to protect freedom of speech.
• C. Both cases ruled that flag burning could be outlawed in places it was considered offensive.
• D. Both decisions protected participants in the civil rights movement from being punished for their civil disobedience.