United States
Essay by Greek • December 11, 2011 • Essay • 357 Words (2 Pages) • 1,617 Views
well as separation of church and state. The Fourth Amendment protects the privacy and security of the home and personal effects and prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. The Fifth through Eighth amendments protect people accused of crime; they guarantee, for example, the right to trial by jury, the right to confront hostile witnesses and to have legal counsel, and the privilege of not testifying against oneself. The Fifth Amendment also contains the general guarantee that no one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Originally these amendments were binding only on the federal government. However, decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States have established that the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment applies many of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights to actions by state and local governments (Lamont 200).
Civil liberties are rights that the U.S. government has agreed to protect or, in the broader sense of the word, rights that liberal democracies tend to protect. Civil liberties and civil rights should be guaranteed to every citizen of the United States, regardless of the color of their skin. This is what sets America apart from many other countries in the world. This is the basis that America was founded upon. American citizens do not see it now, but that is what we our men and women are fighting for in Iraq. Our military makes it possible for every citizen in Iraq to be able to experience civil liberties and civil rights just as we have experienced for many years
Our country was built upon these liberties. freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to vote, the right to a fair court trial, etc. These are what set America apart from other countries, even though today there are many countries that have followed our lead. Liberty lies in the hearts of women and men. Would you like to be living in a country without liberties such as Americas, a land with slavery, a land where your opinions don't matter, or a land where you are guilty until proven innocent? We, as Americans, should do everything in
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