Street Law, Inc. and The Supreme Court Historical Society present

Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court

Street Law /

Data Analysis: How Do Americans Feel about a Constitutional Amendment to Protect the Flag?

Survey I

The table below contains results from Survey I.

Group Percentage who would vote for a Constitutional Amendment to protect the
Men 78%
Women 83%
Age 18-34 76%
Age 35-54 80%
Age 55+ 84%
Northeast 82%
Midwest 83%
South 78%
West 80%
HS/Less Education 86%
Some College 80%
College Grads 67%
Whites 82%
Blacks 71%
Republicans 85%
Democrats 78%
Independents 78%
Conservative Democrats 86%
Conservative Republicans 84%
Moderate/Liberal Democrats 82%
Moderate/Liberal Republicans 90%

  1. According to the table, which demographic group listed below is most in favor of a Constitutional Amendment to protect the flag?
    1. College Graduates
    2. Politicians
    3. Moderate/Liberal Republicans
    4. Women
  2. What conclusion can be drawn from the data regarding the Constitutional Amendment to protect the flag?
    1. It will pass by a large margin.
    2. It enjoys widespread political support.
    3. It has only partisan support.
    4. It has pitted regional interests against one another.

Survey II

The chart below contains results from Survey II.

Do you favor or oppose a new amendment to prohibit the burning or other desecration of the American flag?

 

  1. According to the chart, how do the majority of Americans feel about a Constitutional amendment to protect the flag?
    1. They are unsure of their position.
    2. They are opposed to this amendment.
    3. They are in favor of this amendment.
    4. They are evenly divided on this issue.

The chart below summarizes responses to a follow-up question in the same survey.

Would you favor or oppose such an amendment if you knew it were the first in the country's history to restrict freedom of speech?

 

  1. What conclusions can be drawn from this chart?
    1. A majority of Americans are in favor of such an amendment.
    2. Many people would burn the flag if given the opportunity to do so.
    3. A different group of people must have been surveyed for this question and the previous one.
    4. None of the above.
Questions for Discussion
  1. What would account for the differences in results in Survey 1 and Survey II?
  2. From studying the table and charts, what conclusions can be drawn regarding American political opinion on the issue of the Constitutional amendment to protect the flag?
  3. What are the implications of this information?
  4. Why do some people believe that even speech that is unpopular needs to be protected?

<Texas v. Johnson