political rights
Voting and representation
Political rights are the entitlements that allow citizens to participate in governance—voting, running for office, petitioning the government, assembling freely.
These rights define the relationship between individuals and the state, distinguishing citizens from subjects.
The civil rights movement fought to secure political rights for Black Americans.
Political rights are often contrasted with civil liberties, which protect individuals from government interference.
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- free pressJournalism without censorship
- right to voteLegal power to elect
- voteFormal choice expression
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
freedom of assembly · peaceful assembly · petitioning · protest · minority representation · equal representation · grassroots movement · whistleblower protections · right to protest · lobbying · proportional representation · constitutional amendments · equal protection · fair trial · recall elections · voter registration · referendum · banner
- rightscivil liberties, right, immunity, liberty, constitutional guarantees
- civil rightsequal protection, right to life, civil liberties, desegregation, freedom of religion
- human rightshuman dignity, civil liberties, right to liberty, right to life, right to vote
- ancient politicsAthenian democracy, polis, senate, archon, direct democracy
- enlightenmentVoltaire, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Montesquieu
- women's rightssuffrage movement, women's suffrage, gender equality, feminism, women's vote
political rightsdisenfranchisement
Removal of voting rights
political repression · tyranny · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · political persecution
political rightseconomic rights
Legally protected material interests
social rights · property rights · cultural rights · civil liberties · welfare rights