Civil and Political Rights

Civil and political rights are enforceable rights or privileges that protect people from interference by other individuals; the government; and social, commercial, and political organizations. These rights ensure the ability to participate in the social, economic, and political life of a nation without fear of discrimination or repression.

More specifically, civil rights restrict the power of governments to act against individuals. Political rights protect individuals' right to participate in the determination of laws and the governance of a nation.

The United States and Abroad

In the United States, civil and political rights are protected at the federal level by the US Constitution and its amendments, including the Bill of Rights. Examples of civil rights protected at the federal level include freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to bear arms; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to assemble in public places. Additionally, federal, state, and local jurisdictions may enact statutes designed to ensure the rights of individuals and prevent discrimination, or unfair treatment, based on personal characteristics, such as race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, physical limitations, or national origin.

Globally, civil and political rights vary widely by country. However, the civil rights of people became an important issue after the tragic events of World War II, particularly the systematic killing of Jewish people and other groups by the German Nazis. These events led directly to the formation of the United Nations (UN), an international organization devoted to promoting the rights of humans everywhere.

Role of the United Nations

The United Nations was created in 1945. This international body works to prevent conflict and promote peace among the nations in order to protect the rights of people all over the world. As part of its mission, the UN developed a number of milestone human rights directives, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Bill of Human Rights, among many others. These are meant to set out the fundamental, universal rights of all people to live peacefully and without interference.

Civil Rights

Although civil and political rights may vary, a few of those that are especially important in American life are described as follows.

Life, liberty, and security. This right deals with the basic right to live without fear of unjust imprisonment, torture, or death at the hands of agents of any state. This right can be violated in a number of ways, such as by unnecessary force, unlawful or arbitrary detention by the American government or the government of another nation, unfair expulsion, and so on.

Equal protection under the law. This right deals with the right of each human being to be recognized as a person before the law. Although this right might seem so fundamental as to need not be stated, it is always included in human rights documentation to emphasize that every human being counts. It is especially important when considering disenfranchised groups, such as ethnic minorities, as well as the mentally and physically disabled.

Right to freedom of assembly. This right guarantees the ability of citizens to gather for peaceful purposes. It protects the rights of individuals to join—or refuse to join—associations created for an express purpose, such as labor unions. It allows groups to gather in a public or private place without fear of being forcefully removed, as long as the group is not voiding the rights of others through violence or other tactics of intimidation.

Freedom of thought and expression. The right to think for oneself and express oneself freely is one of the most basic tenets of American life. Freedom of speech in person and in writing guarantees citizens the ability to speak their truth without fear of reprisal. This right can be violated through limits placed on the press or by groups seeking to withhold or suppress information from others.

Access to the judicial system. American citizens are guaranteed the right to a fair and speedy trial conducted by a jury of peers. This right could be violated by long-term detention without access to lawyers or a judge.

Freedom of religion. The right to adopt and practice any religion or belief system is a fundamental right of American citizens. This right can be violated by being forced to follow a system of worship or by imposing unreasonable restrictions on individuals by forcing them to participate in belief systems they do not follow.

Political Rights

Political rights guarantee citizens participation in the process of governmental affairs, either directly or indirectly. For example, American citizens over the age of eighteen have the right to vote. This right allows citizens to have a voice in the government through the election of representatives who share their values. Once these officials are in office, their vote is meant to be representative of the people who elected them.

Additionally, citizens can participate in government on a local level by attending town hall and other meetings where they are allowed to voice their opinions on important issues that affect them locally. They can petition to change rules and regulations that they find unfair to the community, or they can voice opposition to leaders who are not governing in a way they support.

Bibliography

"Rights and Responsibilities." U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, my.uscis.gov/citizenship/information. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

"Civil Rights." Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/wex/civil‗rights. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." United Nations, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

"Lesson Plans: Congress and the Bill of Rights in History and Today." The Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives, 13 Oct. 2020, https://www.archives.gov/legislative/resources/education/bill-of-rights/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

"Universal Declaration of Human Rights." United Nations, www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.