Simone Lawson
The Constitution establishes civil liberties, which protect individuals against government actions that infringe upon certain fundamental rights. Civil liberties include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. Civil rights, a related term, refer to equal treatment under the law and freedom from discrimination. The Constitution also protects civil rights, such as the equal right to vote. The Bill of Rights, which was proposed by James Madison, protects rights involving personal liberty and justice. The first four amendments of the Bill of Rights pertain to liberty, including the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Freedom of speech | Protected by the 1st Amendment |
| Freedom of religion | Protected by the 1st Amendment |
| Freedom of the press | Protected by the 1st Amendment |
| Right to peaceably assemble | Protected by the 1st Amendment |
| Right to bear arms | Protected by the Constitution |
| Right to vote | Protected by the Constitution |
| Right to equal treatment under the law | Protected by the Constitution |
| Right to be free from discrimination | Protected by the Constitution |
| Right to life | Protected by the 14th Amendment |
| Right to liberty | Protected by the 13th and 14th Amendments |
| Right to property | Protected by the 14th Amendment |
| Right to citizenship | Protected by the 14th Amendment |
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What You'll Learn
Freedom of speech
The Constitution established several civil liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. The Bill of Rights also protects the right to freedom of speech, as well as the right to freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government.
Civil liberties protect individuals against government actions that infringe upon certain fundamental rights. The Constitution also protects civil rights, including the equal right to vote. The Fourteenth Amendment places an important federal limitation on the states by forbidding them to deny any person 'life, liberty, or property, without due process of law' and guaranteeing everyone within a state's jurisdiction 'the equal protection of its laws'.
The Bill of Rights originally only limited the federal government's power, but Supreme Court cases later extended most of the Bill of Rights to the states. The original 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights protect rights involving personal liberty and justice. They also address rights and governmental powers that are not named in the Constitution.
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Freedom of religion
The Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties protect individuals against government actions that infringe upon certain fundamental rights. The Constitution established several civil liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms.
The first four amendments of the Bill of Rights pertain to liberty, including the 1st Amendment, which protects the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The 14th Amendment also guarantees the equal protection of the law, forbidding states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
The 13th Amendment, which ended slavery nationwide, and the 15th Amendment, which guaranteed formerly enslaved men the right to vote, were also important steps in protecting liberties. The 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to those who had been enslaved, placed a significant federal limitation on the states by forbidding them from denying any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
The Bill of Rights only limited the federal government's power initially, but Supreme Court cases later extended most of the Bill of Rights to the states. The original 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights protect rights involving personal liberty and justice, addressing rights and governmental powers not named in the Constitution.
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Right to bear arms
The right to bear arms is a civil liberty protected by the Constitution. Civil liberties are fundamental rights that protect individuals against government actions that infringe upon them. The Constitution also protects civil rights, which refer to equal treatment under the law and freedom from discrimination.
The right to bear arms is one of the original 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights, which was proposed by James Madison during the first Congress in 1789. The Bill of Rights initially limited the federal government's power, but later Supreme Court cases extended most of the Bill of Rights to the states.
The 13th Amendment (1865) ended slavery nationwide, except as punishment for a crime. The 14th Amendment (1868/1870) granted citizenship to those who had been enslaved and guaranteed them the right to vote. It also placed an important federal limitation on the states by forbidding them to deny any person "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" and guaranteeing everyone within a state's jurisdiction "the equal protection of its laws."
The right to bear arms is a fundamental liberty protected by the Constitution, and it is one of the key ways in which liberties are protected under the new constitution.
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Right to vote
The right to vote is a civil liberty protected by the Constitution. Civil liberties protect individuals against government actions that infringe upon certain fundamental rights. The Constitution also protects civil rights, which refer to equal treatment under the law and freedom from discrimination.
The right to vote was established in the Fifteenth Amendment, which was adopted after the American Civil War. This amendment guaranteed formerly enslaved men the right to vote. The Fourteenth Amendment, also adopted after the Civil War, placed an important federal limitation on the states by forbidding them to deny any person “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” and guaranteeing every person within a state’s jurisdiction “the equal protection of its laws”.
The Bill of Rights, which includes the first ten amendments to the Constitution, also protects the right to vote. The Bill of Rights originally only limited the federal government’s power, but Supreme Court cases later extended most of the Bill of Rights to the states. The first four amendments of the Bill of Rights pertain to liberty, including the First Amendment, which protects the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government.
The states have ratified 27 constitutional amendments proposed by Congress, many of which expanded, protected, or guaranteed certain civil rights for Americans. These include the Thirteenth Amendment, which ended slavery nationwide, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States”.
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Right to assemble
The right to assemble is a fundamental liberty protected by the Constitution. This right is enshrined in the First Amendment, which also protects freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to petition the government.
The right to assemble allows individuals to gather peacefully for a common purpose, such as to protest or demonstrate. This right is essential for a democratic society, as it enables citizens to express their views and influence public policy.
The Constitution protects individuals against government actions that infringe upon their fundamental rights. This includes the right to assemble, which cannot be restricted without due process of law. The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in interpreting and extending these rights to the states, ensuring that they are upheld across the nation.
The right to assemble has a long history, dating back to the early colonial charters, which acted as constitutions for the British colonies in America. These charters recognised and protected basic rights, including the freedom to assemble. This right was later incorporated into the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, ensuring its protection for all Americans.
The Bill of Rights, which includes the right to assemble, has been amended over time to expand and strengthen civil liberties. For example, the Fourteenth Amendment, adopted after the American Civil War, placed important limitations on the states, forbidding them from denying any person "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law". This amendment further strengthened the right to assemble by guaranteeing equal protection under the law.
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Frequently asked questions
The new constitution protects civil liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
The new constitution protects civil rights by ensuring equal treatment under the law and freedom from discrimination.
The Bill of Rights is a series of amendments that protect rights involving personal liberty and justice. The first four amendments of the Bill of Rights pertain to liberty, including the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble.
The new constitution includes the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to those who had been enslaved.
