Civil Liberties
Definition
Civil liberties are individual rights and freedoms that are protected from government interference or abuse.
Analogy
An analogy for civil liberties is a shield. Civil liberties protect individuals from government interference or abuse, just like a shield protects a person from harm.
Related terms
First Amendment: The First Amendment is an amendment to the United States Constitution that protects the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Fourth Amendment: The Fourth Amendment is an amendment to the United States Constitution that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Due Process: Due process is the legal requirement that the government must respect all legal rights that are owed to a person.
"Civil Liberties" appears in:
Practice Questions (9)
- What are civil liberties?
- What distinguishes civil rights from civil liberties in US Constitution?
- Which organization defends civil liberties including rights provided by the First Amendment?
- Which constitutional amendment has been primarily used to expand civil liberties over time through incorporation?
- How did selective incorporation lead to uniform interpretation of civil liberties across all states?
- How has selective incorporation affected the development of civil liberties over time?
- Which organization works on safeguarding civil liberties including those of minorities in America?
- How did the 9/11 attacks impact US government policies concerning civil liberties?
- What could prompt the government to restrict civil liberties?
Resources
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