⇒ Civil Rights are the basic freedoms of citizens - these rights are mostly spelt out in the Constitution that guarantee the protection of persons, expression and property from arbitrary interference by the government.

⇒ Constitution (Bill of Rights, e.g. freedom of expression in the 1st amendment)

⇒ Supreme Court (Brown v Board 1954)

⇒ State legislators (legislation of marijuana in Florida, same sex in California)

⇒ Congress (Civil Rights Act 1964, lily Ledbetter act 2009 for equal pay for women)

⇒ Pressure groups like the NRA (2nd amendment)

⇒ Presidential action (Obama gave amnesty to undocumented migrants)

⇒ Lack of minority representation in the Senate (only 3 blacks in the Senate)

⇒ Lack of status for 12 million illegal immigrants

⇒ States (North Carolina bathroom laws, Ferguson riots 2014, Missouri)

⇒ Congress (Patriot Act 2001)

⇒ Constitution (equal rights amendment)

⇒ The Supreme Court (allowed voter ID law, Shelby v Holder 2013)

⇒ Executive overreach (Edward Snowden leaked spying culture, surveillance state)

⇒ Next check out our notes on:

• Affirmative Action
• Democratic and Republican Views
• Economic Divide
• Minority Representation