What are civil liberties?

Civil liberties refer to the individual rights protected by law from government interference. This concept is foundational to democratic societies, ensuring that individuals can exercise their rights without undue restriction from the state. These liberties are often enshrined in a constitution or bill of rights and include freedoms such as speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to privacy.

In contrast, governmental rights pertain to the powers and authority of the government itself, which is not the focus when discussing civil liberties. Collective rights of citizens can refer to the rights of groups, but civil liberties emphasize individual protections. Lastly, rights that can be changed by law do not accurately describe civil liberties, as these are meant to be enduring safeguards against the potential overreach of government power. Therefore, the definition that highlights civil liberties as protections for individual rights from governmental interference captures the essence of their role in upholding personal freedoms within the legal system.