what are civil rights

Civil rights are personal rights that are guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. They ensure individuals freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals, and protect ones entitlement to participate in the civil and political life of society and the state. Civil rights include protection from unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, and sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) by certain health care and human services entities. Examples of civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to government services, the right to a public education, and the right to use public facilities. Civil rights are an essential component of democracy, and civil rights laws attempt to guarantee full and equal citizenship for people who have traditionally been discriminated against on the basis of some group characteristic. Civil rights are different from civil liberties, which are freedoms that are secured by placing restraints on government, such as the right to free speech.