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United States Leading Case convention rights

Texas v Johnson

491 U.S. 397 (1989)
JurisdictionUnited States
CourtUS Supreme Court
Year1989
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Flag burning constitutes protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment; government may not prohibit expression of an idea merely because society finds it disagreeable.

Key Principle

First Amendment; flag burning is protected symbolic speech; content-based restriction subject to strict scrutiny

Area of Law

constitutional

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