civil liberty
Citizen's guaranteed right
Civil liberty refers to individual freedoms protected from government interference—freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press; the right to privacy; due process of law.
Usually plural: The new surveillance law threatens civil liberties.
Civil liberties are what citizens can do without state restriction, distinct from civil rights, which concern equal treatment under law.
Systematic observation of subjects
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
- encryptionConverting data into code
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
wiretapping · search and seizure · body autonomy · reproductive rights · personal space · consent · tracking · metadata
Protected verbal liberty
- press freedomRight to publish uncensored
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- opinionSubjective personal belief
journalism · publication · editorial · commentary · satire · protest · petition · broadcast
Nonviolent group protest
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- marchRhythmic group walk
picket · sit-in · boycott · strike · congregation · town hall · permit · curfew
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
judicial review · injunction · ombudsman · legal remedy · ACLU · charter · amendment · landmark ruling
Impartial judicial proceeding
- habeas corpusWrit challenging lawful custody
- Miranda rightsSuspect's custodial advisement
- legal counselProfessional juridical guidance
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
speedy trial · jury trial · right to silence · arraignment · bail · appeal · cross-examination · evidence
Uniform legal treatment
- antidiscriminationOpposing unfair bias
- voting rightsEntitlement to elect officials
- desegregationEnding enforced group separation
- affirmative actionPrograms boosting marginalized representation
accommodation · accessibility · marriage equality · gender equality · racial equality · religious freedom · suffrage · enfranchisement
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
- encryptionConverting data into code
- anonymityUnknown identity state
confidentiality · wiretapping · search and seizure · body autonomy · reproductive rights · personal space · consent · tracking · metadata · facial recognition
free speech
Protected verbal liberty
- press freedomRight to publish uncensored
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- dissentDisagreement with authority
opinion · journalism · publication · editorial · commentary · satire · protest · petition · broadcast · pamphlet
peaceful assembly
Nonviolent group protest
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
march · picket · sit-in · boycott · strike · congregation · town hall · permit · curfew · dispersal
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
checks and balances · judicial review · injunction · ombudsman · legal remedy · ACLU · charter · amendment · landmark ruling · class action
fair trial
Impartial judicial proceeding
- habeas corpusWrit challenging lawful custody
- Miranda rightsSuspect's custodial advisement
- legal counselProfessional juridical guidance
presumption of innocence · speedy trial · jury trial · right to silence · arraignment · bail · appeal · cross-examination · evidence · warrant
equal protection
Uniform legal treatment
- antidiscriminationOpposing unfair bias
- voting rightsEntitlement to elect officials
- desegregationEnding enforced group separation
affirmative action · accommodation · accessibility · marriage equality · gender equality · racial equality · religious freedom · suffrage · enfranchisement · Jim Crow
- enlightenmentVoltaire, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Montesquieu
- Founding Idealsfounding fathers, Declaration of Independence, natural rights, consent of governed, inalienable rights
- Montesquieuseparation of powers, checks and balances, executive power, legislative power, judicial power
civil libertytotalitarianism
State controls everything absolutely
tyranny · oppression · government power · state control · authoritarianism
civil libertyoppression
Unjust exercise of power
repression · censorship · restriction · coercion · constraint
civil, liberty, civility, civilian, civilize, civilized, civilization, civics, civic