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Munro v. Socialist Workers Party

United States Supreme Court

479 U.S. 189 (1986)

Facts

In 1977, Washington state passed a law restricting the number of third-party and independent candidates eligible for general-election ballot access. Washington required independent and third-party candidates to attain a minimum number of supporters. The law sought to preserve primary elections as mechanisms for weeding out candidates, maintaining general-election orderliness. This law faced a constitutional challenge based on its alleged infringement of the First Amendment's freedom of association. The court of appeals ruled that Washington failed to offer evidence that this law addressed a historical pattern of general-election disorder.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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