“Create a notes page that will include this information from the online instructional materials: 1. Court Opinion is a legal document that informs future rulings or interpretations may express the court’s ruling in the form of a majority decision or a disagreement with that ruling in the form of a dissent summarizes the facts of the case and relevant precedents or case law 2.Analyze Seminal Documents Seminal means “creative, original, and having great influence on what follows.” A seminal document, then, is one that establishes or defines principles that shape the way others think or act. The Texas v. Johnson ruling is a seminal document. It sets forth a rational interpretation of the First Amendment and established law that includes protection of “symbolic speech,” such as flag burning. This decision influenced rulings in later cases, and it increased understanding of how First Amendment principles apply to contemporary situations. As you read the excerpts from the opinions on both sides of the Texas v. Johnson case, mark ideas that relate to the long-ranging impact of the Court’s decision. 3. Evaluate Evidence A well-written opinion makes a claim that is supported with relevant and sufficient evidence. The evidence helps readers to understand how the author came to his or her conclusions. Evidence includes data, anecdotes, and expert opinions. The authors of legal documents usually cite precedents, or past legal opinions, as evidence for their opinion. Use an organizer like this one to record the two Justices’ claims and to track the evidence they use to support them. 4. Vocabulary: compulsion implicit reaffirmation resilience sovereignty summarily 5. Background At the 1984 Republican National Convention, people protested the policies of then-President Ronald Reagan. One of the protesters, Gregory Lee Johnson, set an American flag on fire. He was punished with a fine and a jail term for breaking a state law banning flag desecration. He appealed, and the case was sent to the Supreme Court to decide whether flag burning is a form of expression protected by the Constitution. The Court delivered its ruling in 1989. William J. Brennan (1906–1997), who served on the Supreme Court from 1956 to 1990, wrote the majority opinion in the case. His staunch defense of First Amendment rights influenced many significant Court decisions. William Rehnquist (1924–2005) served on the Court from 1972 until his death and was Chief Justice when the Texas v. Johnson case was heard.”