Difference between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

The difference between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is stated in the table below:

Point of Difference	Civil Rights	Civil Liberties
Legal Definition	Civil rights ensure that everyone can enjoy their civil liberties without discrimination.	Civil liberties refer to the actual rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution such as the right to life, freedom of speech, etc.
Effect	Civil rights ensure that no person is subjected to discrimination at the workplace, school, etc. These are legal protections that are guaranteed by the government.	Civil liberties prevent the state from unduly interfering in the private life of its subjects. The civil liberties are protection against arbitrary government action.
Example	The Fair Housing Act, a US law prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants, is an example of a civil right.	The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees various civil liberties such as freedom of speech.
Primary Purpose	The primary purpose of civil rights is to prohibit discrimination based on religion, color gender, and race.	The primary purpose of civil liberties is to protect the citizens from tyrannical rule by the state.

Difference Between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Difference Between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Civil liberties refer to fundamental freedoms, while civil rights involve the essential entitlement to be protected from discrimination based on characteristics like race, disability, color, gender, national origin, and more.

Civil rights and civil liberties are two important facets of a vibrant democracy. The United States legal jurisprudence makes a clear distinction between the two terms. Civil rights protect individuals from discrimination by the government. These rights are embedded in statutes and protect the citizens from discrimination. Civil liberties, on the other hand, prohibit the government from interfering in the citizens’ personal lives. These liberties are guaranteed by the Constitution itself.

In this article, we will look into the key differences between civil rights and civil liberties in detail along with the definitions, importance, and limitations of both.

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