Civil liberties are the fundamental rights and freedoms necessary to full human life and political activity, especially liberty of thought, belief, speech, expression, and association. In United States constitutional law, it is the body of Supreme Court rulings (or decisions) relating to the First Amendment rights to free speech, free press, freedom of religion, and free association or political assembly to influence or criticize the government.

The idea is that these basic human rights and liberties are given by God and nature and cannot be legitimately taken away by a government; rather, part of a just state is protecting those individual freedoms. A government that violates those rights and liberties, for John Locke's British liberalism, is tyrannical, and the people can overthrow it. If a state punishes free speech or writing with prison or fines or execution, if it persecutes religious groups or forbids citizens' associations, it is breaking the social contract and violating God-given natural rights.

Protection of civil liberties is most valued and prominent in Britain, the United States, and other Western democracies. The right to own private property and engage in free-market business is often included in these liberties, so they often accompany capitalism. Civil rights are seen as a prerequisite to a political democracy.

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