What are Civil Rights?

Civil rights are a basic category of human rights afforded to and held by all people according to the modern legal and political theory of the last few hundred years. A civil right refers to some area of freedom, self-expression, or any other kind of action or existence which is guaranteed against the interference or repressive actions of governments or other individuals.

Civil rights laws provide for such basic considerations as people’s safety and freedom, and commonly do so as the “birthright” of all human beings, rather than as privileges granted by citizenship or otherwise by legal existence within a nation’s framework of laws. Civil rights laws are enacted and enforced by states with a view partly toward restricting their own attempts, if any, to infringe upon their citizens’ civil rights.

A civil right might come in the form of freedom to perform various kinds of actions. These civil rights include freedom of speech, movement, religion, and conscience, among others. In a more recent 20th century context, civil rights laws have also broadly recognized the civil right to be free from the restricting effects of systemic discrimination. If you feel your rights were violated, contact a civil lawyer to review your case.

A civil right can also provide for the guarantee that a person will be treated fairly while undergoing trial for some accusation in the legal system. Civil rights are also customarily conceived of as providing for various aspects of political action, power, and participation. The civil rights to vote, assemble, and petition are among those commonly recognized by civil rights laws.