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A well-known concept derived from the text and structure of the Constitution is the doctrine of what is commonly called separation of powers. The Framers’ experience with the British monarchy informed their belief that concentrating distinct governmental powers in a single entity would subject the nation’s people to arbitrary and oppressive government action. 1 Footnote
Define civil liberties and civil rights. Describe the origin of civil liberties in the U.S. context. Identify the key positions on civil liberties taken at the Constitutional Convention. Explain the Civil War origin of concern that the states should respect civil liberties.
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What are civil liberties?
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Why is individual liberty important?
The core principles of natural-rights liberty are those expressed in the opening of the Declaration of Independence, and they are correctly regarded as reflecting the teachings of John Locke, as well as other early-modern liberal thinkers.
- Overview
- How do liberals, conservatives, and libertarians approach social issues?
- Review questions
A high-level overview of liberal, conservative, and libertarian views on the appropriate role of government in solving social problems.
How much should the government intervene in order to promote social and economic equality? To what extent should government policies respect personal privacy or promote traditional morality? Is it permissible to restrict individual liberties in order to protect public safety?
Derived partly from shared interpretations of core values like equality of opportunity and limited government and partly from responses to historical events, approaches to social policy differ across the ideological spectrum.
Of course, individuals vary in their beliefs, and even someone who identifies strongly with one political party might not endorse every aspect of its platform. Likewise, ideologies are constantly changing and adapting to new political realities. However, political scientists can make some generalizations about the social policy approaches of liberals, conservatives, and libertarians:
Liberal ideologies
Liberals tend to favor more government intervention in order to promote social and economic equality. For example, liberals endorse minimum wage laws, arguing that without government intervention businesses will take advantage of employees and economic inequality will increase. On the other hand, liberals tend to oppose government intervention into areas of private life, such as laws restricting contraception or same-sex marriage.
Conservative ideologies
Conservatives tend to oppose government intervention in order to promote social and economic equality, arguing that the free market will reward individuals according to their talent and hard work. Conservatives also oppose government restrictions on individual liberties protected in the Bill of Rights, such as the right to bear arms. On the other hand, conservatives tend to favor government intervention to promote traditional morality, such as outlawing abortion and marijuana. They also strongly support government spending on the military and national security.
Do the liberals and conservatives feel the same way about the role of government in social policy as they do about the role of government in economic policy?
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Drag the policy proposal to the group most likely to support it.
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[Notes and attributions]
All branches of government are constitutionally obligated to protect individual liberties while maintaining public safety. During times of imminent threat or military action, however, it is challenging to determine how to maintain balance between civil liberty and national security.
Dec 19, 2001 · Liberty, Community, and the National Idea. Is a renewed emphasis on the value of community the answer to our political woes? Not if it's defined in purely local terms. by Alan Brinkley. December 19, 2001. N othing is so central to America's image of itself as the idea of individual liberty.
A constitution describes the underlying principles of the people and government, the structure of the branches of government, and their duties. It limits government, listing freedoms or rights reserved for the people, and it must be more difficult to amend or change than ordinary laws. 16.
