What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?

Answer 1

There are many definitions given about this difference, and in many countries, laws and comments the terms are used in different ways. Wikipedia for one mentions 'freedom of speech' at the same time under 'civil rights' and under 'civil liberties'. But you could say that civil rights are general rules and freedoms that apply to any- and everybody in the same way, and that civil liberties are (often) specific rules and freedoms that apply to specific situations.

Answer 2

In the UK, civil liberties are the limitation of the power of the government that protect a citizen. They are 'negative' rights so to speak in that they determine what the government cannot do as opposed to what the citizen can do. For example, freedom of speech, freedom of association and the right to fair trial. None of these aspects can be limited or interfered with by the government.

Civil rights are a set of moral rules that determine the rights of a citizen. Many of these moral stand points have been incorporated into international legal systems but are often not entrenched. For example the UK is a member of the European Convention of Human Rights. Human rights are Universal, in that they apply to all human beings world wide. They are fundamental meaning that entitlement to them cannot be removed and they are absolute in that they must be upheld under all circumstances. Despite this, civil rights are often infringed Also, in the UK civil liberties are precariously protected. UK parliament has sovereignty, meaning they can pass any law they like. They therefore have the ability to remove civil liberties from their citizens. In theory, the liberty of UK citizens is protected by Judicial review and the ECHR, however, the degree of this protection is questionable.

Answer 3

Civil Rights are freedoms granted to citizens of a country and civil liberties are the right of a person to practice their civil rights.

Freedom of Speech is a civil right, criticizing the government in a public forum is a civil liberties.

Answer 4

Civil liberties are rights that individuals have against government, civil rights protect against private acts of discrimination.

By Cynthia Rojas

Answer 5

Civil liberties are rights protected by the constitution against government action, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Civil rights are rights that protect against discrimination of another person do to race, sex, or sexual orientation.