American National Government - POSC 111 Resource Guide

Civil liberties are the freedoms, protected by law, generally considered to be essential features of liberal democratic government.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the Bush administration and Congress acted forcefully to deter future incidents. A new law was passed giving the government more authority to conduct surveillance and track Internet communications.

Fundamental human rights have been variously defined as 'freedom from want and freedom from fear' and rights to 'life, liberty and property'.

Rights attributable to people by natural law, or by nature.

Civil liberties are rights and freedoms held by individuals and protected by government. The civil liberties of Americans are primarily found in the Bill of Rights.

The expression ‘civil rights’ has different meanings in different contexts and countries. In democratic Europe, civil rights are associated with the rights of persons as members of civil society, which emerged in the 18th century. They include the right to a fair trial, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, equality before the law, and freedom of expression, thought and worship.

The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

The Center for Democracy and Technology is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy organization and the leading Internet freedom organization working at the critical edge of policy innovation.