Comparing Freedom of Speech in Tinker and Citizens United

In recent decades, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has addressed various significant issues regarding the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech. In particular, two landmark cases, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) and Citizens United v. FEC (2010), provide contrasting approaches to the regulation of speech in different contexts.

In Tinker, the Court held that students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech at the schoolhouse gate, establishing a precedent that student speech is protected as long as it does not cause a material disruption. Conversely, in Citizens United, the Court ruled that the government cannot restrict independent expenditures for political communications, leading to far-reaching implications for campaign finance and corporate speech.

Compare and contrast the reasoning and outcomes of these two cases. In your response, be sure to address how each case contributes to the interpretation of the First Amendment and discuss how the context of each case influenced the Court's decision.