{"id":355588,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/civil-liberties.html"},"modified":"2023-11-27T19:21:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T00:21:49","slug":"civil-liberties","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/civil-liberties.html","title":{"rendered":"Civil Liberties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Civil Liberties<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lark Lewis, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Civil liberties protect you from certain government actions. This is in contrast to civil rights, which are protections offered by the government. While civil rights<\/a> are rights or powers people can exercise under civil law, such as the right to be free from discrimination based on gender or race, civil liberties<\/a> limit what the government can do to you.<\/p>\r\n

In the U.S., certain civil liberties are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights or the U.S. Constitution. These constitutional rights include the First Amendment right to free speech<\/a>, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. The Fourteenth Amendment also provides the right to due process of law<\/a>. Most civil rights laws, in contrast, are created by the United States government through case law or legislation passed by Congress.<\/p>\r\n

This article discusses various categories of civil liberties, beginning with rights related to criminal justice. The article also addresses Miranda rights, prisoners’ rights, parental rights, and property owners’ rights. See FindLaw’s Civil Rights Basics<\/a> section to learn more about the related concept of civil rights.<\/p>\r\n

Rights Related to Criminal Justice and Criminal Cases<\/h2>\r\n

Below are links to articles discussing civil rights in the criminal justice system context. Click on any of the links to learn more.<\/p>\r\n