Student Question
What role do civil liberties play in American democracy?
Quick answer:
Civil liberties are essential to American democracy, underpinning freedoms and rights like speech, religion, and due process. Enshrined in the Bill of Rights and expanded through subsequent amendments and Supreme Court decisions, these liberties ensure individual freedoms while balancing societal well-being. Though they promote democracy by allowing free expression, civil liberties often challenge majority rule by protecting minority rights and unpopular positions, highlighting a complex but vital role in maintaining democratic integrity.
Civil liberties are the backbone of American democratic freedom. The Bill of Rights 1791 (first 10 Amendments) guarantees individual rights that the government cannot violate such as the right to religious and political freedom, the right to a speedy trial with a jury of ones' peers. (read over the Bill of Rights for additional guarantees) In addition, between 1870 and 1971 five additional amendments increased the civil liberties of Americans they include #14 equal protection under the law/federalizes due process #15 male suffrage, #19 female suffrage, #24 abolishing poll taxes, #26 voting age set at 18 years of age. Moreover, many decisions of the Supreme Court have also served to define and expand the role of civil liberties in the U.S., among them Miranda v. Arizona 1966, Gideon v. Wainwright 1963, Tinker v. Des Moines School District 1969. HOWEVER, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS/FREEDOMS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE meaning that in the U.S. freedom...
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of individual expression walks hand in hand with the security and well being of society. There is always a delicate balance between these powerful perspectives, which is why the protection, definition, and understanding the scope of civil liberties is vital to the success of American democracy.
Civil liberties play a complicated role in American democracy.
Freedom of speech is the basis of our (or any) democracy. It is the right that really makes us democratic because it is the one that allows us to speak our mind.
But the other civil liberties generally go somewhat against democracy (or at least against popular sovereignty). They tell us to treat unpopular people well in many cases. They tell us to give lawyers to poor criminals and they tell us to sort of rein in the police in what they do in investigating defendants. They sometimes tell us that we should allow people to practice "strange" religious beliefs or they tell us not to have organized prayer in schools. All of these are things that are unpopular with the majority but that we are supposed to do because they are civil liberties.
Overall, then, they play a mixed role -- helping us have popular sovereignty, but then taking it away to some extent.