Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights and Liberties

摘要

The editors stress that no other book covers both civil rights and civil liberties in such detail yet in such a readable manner.rnThey define "civil rights" as issues that arise from the democratic commitment to equality and are protected by constitutional guarantees of equal protection under legislation, while "civil liberties" denote the conflict that occurs when individual freedom clashes with government power.rnThe encyclopedia includes entries on major historical developments and social movements such as feminist and civil rights movements; important legislation such as the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the several Civil Rights acts enacted from 1966 to 1988; landmark Supreme Court cases; influential individuals such as Rosa Parks and John Peter Zenger; groundbreaking justices of the US Supreme Court; key constitutional provisions; groups and organisations such as the National Right to Life Committee and the Nation of Islam; important government departments and agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; controversial issues such a school prayer, smoking bans and flag burning; and crucial legal and philosophical concepts and doctrines.