Case Background
This political event was happening when Johnson burned the flag in 1984.
What is the Republican National Convention?
This amendment was central to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Texas v. Johnson.
What is the First Amendment?
The majority argued that Johnson's flag burning was an expression of these political views.
What are anti-government views?
The Court ruled that this form of protest was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.
What is flag burning?
Johnson burned the flag in front of this government building in Dallas.
What is Dallas City Hall?
The First Amendment protects this type of "nonverbal" expression, such as flag burning.
What is symbolic speech?
The majority ruled that this interest of Texas was insufficient to justify Johnson’s conviction.
What is preserving the flag as a symbol of national unity?
The Court emphasized that the flag stands for this, allowing many different interpretations of its meaning.
What is the freedom of expression?
The demonstration Johnson participated in was protesting this U.S. President’s policies
Who is Ronald Reagan?
In their decision, the Court said the government could not prohibit expression just because of this reaction from the public.
What is offense?
The dissent argued that this symbol needed special protection to maintain national unity.
What is the American flag?
The Court refused to make an exception for the flag, arguing the First Amendment cannot protect just these types of ideas.
What are popular or agreeable ideas?
This Texas law was Johnson charged with violating after the flag burning.
What is the desecration of a venerated object?
According to the majority, Johnson's flag burning was this type of conduct, which allows him to invoke First Amendment protection.
What is expressive conduct?
The dissent compared protecting the flag to this historic government effort to promote respect for national symbols.
What is the Pledge of Allegiance (West Virginia v. Barnette)?
This famous case was cited by the Texas court, which established that the government cannot force individuals to show respect for the flag.
What is West Virginia v. Barnette?
In this year, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the Texas v. Johnson case.
What is 1989?
The case was evaluated under this legal test from United States v. O'Brien for combining speech and non-speech elements in conduct.
What is the O'Brien test?
This Justice dissented separately, arguing the unique status of the flag justified the state’s ability to prevent its desecration.
Who is Justice Stevens?
The majority ruled that this reaction from witnesses did not justify criminalizing Johnson’s flag burning.
What is a serious offense?