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3.1 The Bill of Rights

Part of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in AP® US Government & Politics. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

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Civil liberties are protections against government actions that limit individual freedoms, while civil rights are protections against discrimination that ensure equal treatment under the law. Civil liberties are largely rooted in the Bill of Rights and focus on limiting government power, whereas civil rights focus on government responsibility to protect individuals from unequal treatment. Understanding the distinction is essential, as civil liberties typically involve freedom from government interference, while civil rights often require government action to enforce equality.

In this unit

13 lessons

  1. 3.1The Bill of RightsThis lesson
  2. 3.2First Amendment: Freedom of ReligionPreview lesson
  3. 3.3First Amendment: Freedom of SpeechPreview lesson
  4. 3.4First Amendment: Freedom of the PressPreview lesson
  5. 3.5Second Amendment: Right to Bear ArmsPreview lesson
  6. 3.6Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and SafetyPreview lesson
  7. 3.7Selective IncorporationPreview lesson
  8. 3.8Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the AccusedPreview lesson
  9. 3.9Amendments: Due Process and the Right to PrivacyPreview lesson
  10. 3.10Social Movements and Equal ProtectionPreview lesson
  11. 3.11Government Responses to Social MovementsPreview lesson
  12. 3.12Balancing Minority and Majority RightsPreview lesson
  13. 3.13Affirmative ActionPreview lesson

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