ABSTRACT
Liberty can be understood simply as the absence of constraints or restrictions upon what a person wants to do. Whereas civil liberties protect individuals from governmental intrusions on fundamental freedoms, the term "civil rights" has come to connote a positive act of government intended to guarantee that each person is treated as an equal member of society. Civil rights, in contrast to individual liberties, guarantee freedom from discrimination, equal access to the polls and the political process, and full citizenship. The United States Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which overturned the doctrine of separate but equal in public schools, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act are examples of governmental action intended to protect civil rights. For more than two centuries civil rights and liberties have been at the center of American political discourse and debate. The chapter also presents an overview of key concepts discussesd in this book.
