American civil liberties

Definition

American civil liberties are the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution, such as freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly. These rights protect citizens from government interference and ensure their individual autonomy.

Related terms

Judicial Activism: Judicial activism refers to when judges interpret the Constitution broadly and actively shape legal doctrine to reflect their own policy preferences.

Strict Constructionism: Strict constructionism is an approach where judges interpret the Constitution based solely on its original intent without considering societal changes or evolving interpretations.

First Amendment: The First Amendment protects essential civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.