Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Final Paper
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The United States (U.S.) Constitution incorporates civil rights and civil liberties. Civil liberties augment natural rights delineated within the Declaration of Independence as follows: ''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Civil liberties are typically protected from government influence and are depicted as rights and freedoms within the Bill of Rights as well as other constitutional amendments. Civil rights are freedoms and safeguards within the government's premise to promote and protect. They are derived from government actions such as laws passed via legislation. The exceptional threat to Americans' ways of life, thus, creates the need for restrictions on human rights and civil liberties. It is increasingly crucial to ensure that the safeguards from the capacity to exercise state power do not prevent the government's ability to respond to the threat more effectively. In order to meet today's challenges, the U.S. government must reform the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) around the mission that delineates services and safety alongside its conventional safeguard roles. Contemporary governance relies on such aspects as civil rights and civil liberties, the balance between security and civil liberties, the safeguards instilled to protect such rights, and the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) capacity to address the emerging challenges while safeguarding civil liberties. This paper evaluates the above issues and argues that ensuring the appropriate balance between security and civil liberties is sophisticated but fundamental in protecting citizen freedoms and democratic principles.
Difference Between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
The concepts of civil rights and civil liberties are instrumental in the perspective of government policy and constitutional law. Although these concepts are employed interchangeably at times, they depict different aspects of individual protections and freedoms in society. Civil rights entail a more comprehensive range of legal privileges and protections vital for fostering equal opportunities and treatment for all people. They significantly protect people against unfair treatment based on gender, national origin, race, and religion. Also, civil rights curb inherent discriminatory practices such as inequitable access to education, employment, public accommodation, and housing. Such laws aim at enhancing equality and fostering fairness for all citizens. Arguably, civil rights trace their origin back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which sought to eliminate racial discrimination and public segregation (Dobbin & Kalev, 2021). Amid this backdrop, it can be deduced that civil rights have become increasingly vital in addressing structural inequalities that undermine the principles of equality and justice in America.
As opposed to civil rights, civil liberties entail fundamental freedoms and rights that protect citizens from state interference and intrusion to their privacy. They involve an array of rig...