Case library · Contempt of Government
Teaching the Overthrow
Dennis v. United States (1951)
Charge: Conspiracy to organize a party that teaches and advocates violent overthrow of the governmentCourt: Supreme Court of the United StatesState: New YorkDocket: Contempt of Government
The facts
The leaders of a political party were charged with conspiracy. The government said they agreed to organize the party as a group that teaches the duty of overthrowing the government by force, and to teach that doctrine themselves. Nobody claimed they had tried to overthrow anything. The men said they were only teaching political ideas, and that free speech protects that. The law here asks whether their words created a real danger the government could act to prevent.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 (1951)
Read more at supreme.justia.com. The source reveals the outcome.