Why Are Civil Liberties Important

An American’s civil liberties are among some of the most important rights awarded to a citizen. After 9/11 some of those liberties were taken away by the expansion of executive power, the National Security

The Patriot act is a federal law passed in by Ex- President George W Bush in October of 2001 following the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in NYC. The administration

The United States Patriot Act was a series of bills that were passed into law and enacted into the Patriot Act in 2001 by George W. Bush. This Act was designed to protect Americans in the wake of the 9/11 bombings and the 2001 Anthrax attacks. According to George W. Bush this Act was designed to protect United States citizens and prevent another terroristic attack similar to 9/11.

During certain times the government may place limits on civil liberties. This is allowed during war time or during other national crisis. People want to limit the liberties because of the safety problem. Citizens have the right to challenge government actions by initiating legal action. In such a case, the U. S. Supreme Court uses its power of judicial review, which included the power to void any legislative or executive action that violates constitutional rights. Recent events such as, the debate over gay marriage and abortion ensure that our conceptions of liberty and equal rights will continue to rise in future. We can describe civil liberty as the story of managing the collision between the need and desire of the

America’s history is one based on the fight for freedom. The idea that freedom is not free is ingrained into the minds of many Americans, and many of these freedoms are those of civil liberties. In the past, not every citizen had the luxury of civil liberties, basic human rights, given to them. Since the early days of America, those who have fought for their freedom have earned these liberties and most issues have since been resolved.

Civil liberties protect us from government power. They come from what is said throughout the amendments in the Bill of Rights, which limits the powers of the federal government. The government cannot take away the freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights, and any action that encroaches on these liberties is illegal. Because the bill of rights protects mostly the federal government, citizens were not protected from the states on their civil liberties. The 14th amendment protects citizens from being trampled by the states diminishing their rights and liberties guaranteed by the constitution. Although the bill of rights focuses on the first 10 amendments from the constitution such as freedom of speech, press, religion, the right to bear arms, the right to due process and protection from cruel and unusual punishment there are other amendments to the constitution that highlight the importance of civil

Benjamin Franklin once said that those who would give up liberty for the sake of security deserved neither and would lose both. The reason for this is that it eventually could lead to having a government much like a dictatorship or a monarchy. If we allow our government to strip away our rights and freedoms we are placing ourselves at the mercy of men. As humans, we all have faults, we aren't likely to be accepting of all people. We could open ourselves up to genocide, racism, discrimination of all sorts. That would strip us not only of our rights but basic human dignityWhen we give Government absolute power over our lives, how are we to protect ourselves if something goes wrong? We must learn from history, it is the only way we can avoid tripping over the same rocks or repeating our mistakes. If this hasn't worked in the past...why do we believe that it will work now? No, security is not worth losing my liberty or potentially, my dignity as a human

The act authorizes federal and local government agencies to unethical and unconstitutional investigations, surveillance, and exchange of information on every American citizen. Undoubtedly, this action violates explicitly the Fourth Amendment, as consequence our privacy has been compromised since then. The U.S government can normally spying on its own people and conduct secret investigations, warrantless searches, and indefinite detentions based solely on their beliefs. Every time a US citizen picks or make a phone call forces to pause regarding whether if we have been listening by the National security agency (NSA), which at the same time infringing our freedom of expression guarantee by the First Amendment. Under this unprecedented surveillance program, the government agencies have the ability and capacity to build an enormous range of database with information on every American affiliation and associations with others, even if we are not related or involved in any terrorism activities or connections whatsoever. Moreover, government agencies are forced multiples businesses and organizations like internet and phone providers, universities, airliners, employers, and medical facilities, etc. to turn over their client’s

The rights of the people in America should not be infringed upon because these rights are guaranteed. And if abused, it not only infringes the rights of the people, but also diminishes the moral code of citizens of the United States. Furthermore, the civil rights that have protected people from the government now seem like they are being taken away from the government itself. The government has given itself the privilege to tap our phones, read and scan emails, access bank accounts, invade homes, and detain someone indefinitely. All of this is happening without any prior legal courses of action or our knowledge. This right to privacy, a fundamental liberty that is implied by the fourth amendment in the U.S. constitution, continues to be infringed upon by the government.

Public Law 107-56 otherwise known as the USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym which stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. (justice.gov) This law was instated in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The Islamic terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda, coordinated four different plane hijackings killing 2,996 people, and injuring 6,000+ others. (9/11 memorial.org) Just weeks after the attacks congress rushed to pass this bill, passing the senate 98 to 1, and the house 357 to 66 (justice.gov), so that we can have more security controls within the United States. It gives the United States government the same powers and tools used to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking in decades prior, to investigate current suspected terrorist. The Patriot act has several different titles that cover different grounds, all which have the same purpose of preventing future acts of terrorism. The patriot act allows the government to track and intercept any form of electronic communications of suspected terrorist in order to prevent any acts of terror, and also for intelligence gathering. The act also aids the government in securing borders, and removing those that are here with the intent to cause harm.

Without these liberties I would not have the right to freedom of speech, privacy, fair court, marriage, voting, press, and more. The right of speech and privacy are ones I take advantage for everyday, it is hard to imagine the starkly different world I would live in if those freedoms were stripped away from each American. Our rights are what enable our freedoms to shape this country into who it is. Meanwhile, Civil Rights cases have a greater influence on states as a whole. Their decisions dictate the actions of business, organizations, the government and people, It is through the Judicial sector of our government that actions are taken to ensure America continue to follow the laws and ideals set out by our founders.

Civil liberties are rights for freedom of speech and religion, that are so significant that are outside government’s authority to regulate. Defined as protected laws allowing everyone to have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, abortion rights, and other right’s stated in the first 10 amendments, which are better known as the Bill of Rights.

One might ask the importance of civil liberties after so many years. The answer is that we are all touched by these liberties every day. Even though civil liberties were embedded into the Bill of Rights in the late 1800’s, we today, as Americans, still have the right to be protected against any abusive power used by the government (Bianco & Canon, 2015, p. 106). Although Americans are protected fully today, it took over a century for all civil liberties to be implemented. With several civil liberties in place, which is most important? Which liberty protects us as Americans, most significantly? I believe all of our civil liberties are equally as beneficial and lead to the safety of every citizen in the United

There is a difference between civil liberties and civil rights in relation to the government. Civil liberties refer to an individual’s unalienable freedoms that cannot be taken away by political intervention. On the other hand, civil rights are provided by the government in order to promote equality. This ideology was introduced to the founders of the nation by John Locke, who believed in natural rights. Locke stated that these natural rights are to be protected and secured by the government. The question that should be raised now is whether the government truly does protect our civil rights and have the citizens’ best interest in mind.

From the beginning, the United States Constitution has guaranteed the American people civil liberties. These liberties have given citizens rights to speak, believe, and act freely. The Constitution grants citizens the courage to express their mind about something they believe is immoral or unjust. The question is, how far are citizens willing to extend the meanings of these liberties? Some people believe that American citizens take advantage of their civil liberties, harming those around them. On the contrary, many other people feel that civil liberties are necessary tools to fight for their Constitutional rights.