Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 3: Civil Rights and Liberties

III. 1/17/2011 - 1/24/2011 – Civil Liberties, Civil Rights

●     Goals:

○     Distinguish the difference between civil rights and civil liberties.

○     Explain how the Patriot Act has changed and affected civil rights and civil liberties in the United States since 9/11/2001.

KEY FACTS:

I. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

A. Definition of civil liberties: What are civil liberties?

1. Freedom of expression

2. Freedom from arbitrary arrest

B. Definition of civil rights: citizenship rights

1. Right to vote

2. Freedom from discrimination

C. Bill of Rights and incorporation

1. Originally planned to protect citizens only from federal government

2. Fourteenth Amendment applied through due process and equal protection

3. Incorporation applied Bill of Rights to states through Fourteenth Amendment

D. Numbers of lawsuits indicate continuing commitment to, and preoccupation with, rights

E. Few rights are absolute, most are in conflict

How does the Patriot Act affect rights and liberties?

USA PATRIOT is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.

Key Questions:

-       What are civil rights?

-       What are civil liberties?

-       Is the USA PATRIOT Act a threat to civil liberties or a necessary strengthening of the government’s hand to stop terrorism?”

-       “Why do you think the Act was given this particular name instead of something simpler, such as The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001?