What are civil liberties?

Civil liberties refer to the fundamental rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to individuals, primarily by the Constitution and laws of a given country. These liberties are designed to protect citizens from government interference in personal domains, ensuring the ability to express oneself, practice religion, assemble peacefully, and seek justice, among others.

The definition of civil liberties emphasizes protection against the actions and policies of governmental entities, which means that individuals have rights that cannot be infringed upon merely because of the state's interests. This legal framework helps maintain a balance between the power of the state and the rights of individuals.

Furthermore, civil liberties are often enshrined in legal documents such as the Bill of Rights in the United States, which explicitly outlines various protections. Other options fail to capture this fundamental aspect: rights during elections are not comprehensive or continuous, privileges granted by state governments vary and can be revoked, and duties owed to the government relate more to obligations than to individual rights. Hence, the core concept of civil liberties is best encapsulated by the notion of rights protected from government interference.