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)

Question

Responses

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.
Both cases ruled that flag burning could be outlawed in places it was considered offensive.

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.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Both decisions protected the symbolic speech of burning a U.S. flag in protest.

Both Texas v. Johnson (1989) and United States v. Eichman (1990) were landmark cases in which the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. This affirmed the principle that expressive conduct, including acts of protest like flag burning, falls under the umbrella of free speech.