Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted under Texas law for burning an American flag in protest of Reagan administration policies in 1984. The Supreme Court was tasked with determining if flag burning constituted protected speech under the First Amendment. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that Johnson's flag burning was expressive conduct protected by freedom of speech. The Court found that the Texas law banning flag desecration was unconstitutional.

1. Texas V. Johnson Argued: Tuesday, march 21, 1989. Decided: Wednesday, June 21, 1989. Decided by: Rehnquist Court

2. Texas V. Johnson Facts IN 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag in front of Dallas city hall as a means of protest against Reagan administration policies. Johnson was tried and convicted under Texas law banning the desecration of the flag. He was sentenced to one year in jail and assessed a $2,000 fine.

3. Texas V. Johnson Question Is the desecration of the American flag, by burning or otherwise, a form of speech that is protected by the first amendment?

4. Texas V. Johnson Conclusion: with a 5 to 4 decision, the court held that Johnson’s burning of the flag was protected expression under the first amendment. The court found that Johnsons actions were of expressive conduct and had a distinctive political nature. The court also found that the Texas law banning the burning of the flag was unconstitutional.

5. Texas V. Johnson Amendment Right Question First amendment Freedom of expression Freedom of speech, Right of assembly, Is the burning of the American flag protected by the first amendment.

6. Texas V. Johnson Resources  The Oyez Project, Texas v. Johnson , 491 U.S. 397 (1989) available at: ( http://oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1988/1988_88_155 ) (last visited Monday, September 27, 2010).