John M. Aughenbaugh is an associate professor in the political science department at Virginia Commonwealth University. He teaches courses on U.S. public law (constitutional law and administrative law), courts and politics, law and public policy, American political science (institutions and administration) and politics in film.

More Articles from this Author


Byron White

Byron Raymond White was a Supreme Court justice whose First Amendment opinions tended to give less importance to press freedom and student speech concerns.

Connick v. Myers (1983)

Connick v. Myers (1983) clarified First Amendment protection for public employees by explaining how courts should balance an employee’s rights against an employer’s interests.

Elrod v. Burns (1976)

Elrod v. Burns (1976) said a sheriff violated the First Amendment when he conditioned the retention of a government job upon membership in a specific political party.

Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (1990)

Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (1990) said a governor's order requiring his approval for all public employee hiring and firing violated the First Amendment.

United States v. National Treasury Employees Union(1995)

U.S. v. National Treasury Employees Union (1995) invalidated an honorarium ban that was part of ethics reform, saying it restricted First Amendment rights of government employees.