Civil Rights: A Quick Overview

Civil rights are sometimes called the natural rights. Their primary goal is to promote freedom and equality among the citizens of a democratic nation. Civil rights should not be denied to a citizen based on his or her race, religion, gender, political party, nationality, and disability. That’s why discrimination is still one of the most controversial issues regarding civil rights violations.

Most countries have both civil and political rights codified in the first part of their constitution. In the US, the first ten amendments of the United States Bill of Rights are considered the civil rights. Here are the most common and important amendments which directly speak of civil rights and its provisions to the individual.

- The First Amendment protects the citizens’ rights to freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

This is quite self explanatory. The most important declaration that prohibits the federal government from making laws that may interfere or limit people’s liberty to choose a religion, self [removed]free speech and free press), and ability to organize an assembly.

- The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure of their homes and properties.

This law makes sure that people are secured in their own homes and properties by prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizure unless there is a valid warrant of arrest or search warrant ordered by a law enforcement officer. Aside from warrants, there should be a probable reason why the search and seizure needs to be conducted and also it should specify where they are planning to search and what they are planning to take.

- The Fifth Amendment protects citizens against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure.

This law secures procedural protections for criminal defendants and ensures that the government may not deprive a citizen of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

- The Sixth Amendment protects the citizens’ rights to a speedy and public trial, trial by a jury, and a right to counsel.

This is an extension of the Fifth Amendment in terms of procedural protections. The old adage that a person is innocent until proven guilty is what this is all about. The defendant of a criminal prosecution has the right to a speedy trial which is usually gauged through the absence of unreasonable delays. It also grants the right to be represented by an attorney of his choice or self representation if the defendant is competent enough. Lastly, the right to an unbiased jury is also ratified in this amendment. Exception to jury right are petty crimes which requires only a short time of imprisonment.

- The Eighth Amendment protects citizens against federal government abuse in the form of excessive bail, excessive fines, cruel and unusual punishments.

Bail refers to the amount of money deposited to temporarily release someone from jail, granted that he or she returns during trial proper. Excessive bails and fines are prohibited by law and so are barbaric types of punishments. Examples of cruel and unusual punishments are: boiling to death, burning alive, stoning, disembowelment, and other forms of torture. Other violations of the Eighth Amendment include execution of people under 18 and execution of those who are mentally disabled. There’s still a great deal of debate about what punishments are acceptable or not but most of the time it all depends on the severity of the crime committed.

A lot of questions have continually emerged as to what extent the government can intervene in the ever changing issues that society has faced through out time. Although there is a remarkable improvement from the time of the Civil Rights Movement, issues concerning discrimination are still a work in progress. One thing’s for sure, if people are deprived of their civil and political rights, history has it that social unrest may be inevitable.