Texas Vs. Johnson: Supreme Court Case

The Texas v. Johnson (1989) supreme court case is very important. It was a landmark supreme court case, and decided for all future court cases how the first amendment would be interpreted. They had to look at and determine the extent of the phrase, "freedom of speech". Johnson's action of burning an American flag was to be reviewed and they would have to decide whether his action counted as "freedom of speech," and if it was protected by the first amendment. It turned out to be that his action was protected by the first amendment. Protection of the American flag does not come before the freedom to express political ideas. It was in Dallas, Texas that the Republican National Convention was being held in, it was the year of 1984. There was a crowd there protesting against the
It might be repulsive, but it is the freedom of expressing your opinion, which the founding fathers wanted Americans to have. In the Texas v. Johnson (1989) ruling the Court said "If there is a bedrock principle underlying the Firs Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because the society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." (Miller 78) In a later ruling against overruling Johnson's case the Court said that the Constitution does not change with popular opinion. (Miller 91) America is a republic democracy. The people are entitled to freedom of speech and ideas just how the Johnson ruling went. The people can't do as they please though. America is republic, meaning that the laws must still be followed. The supreme law of the land is the Constitution. The Constitution states in its first amendment that "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech." (Miller 8) It is clearly meant for the people to be able to state their ideas without being put in jail. The Johnson case assured Americans that they could express their ideas, even if they were unpopular and offensive, without fear of being