Although civil rights and civil liberties are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a distinction between the two. According to Dr. Paul M. Johnson, a Political Science professor at Auburn University, "The term civil liberties generally refers more specifically to the protection of the individual's rights to form and express his or her own preferences or convictions and to act freely upon them in the private sphere without undue or intrusive interference by the government" (Johnson) Ther

An additional employment discrimination case which the Supreme Court decided recently dealt with the disabled. The interpretation which the court gave, contrary to the decisions in the previously mentioned case, may have limited the civil rights of the disabled in employment and thus limited their there freedom of choice in jobs.

Therefore, the doctors and others affected by this case may be able to get around employment discrimination laws based on the outcome of the multi-factor test. Those where their workers are not considered employees may not have to provide the reasonable accommodations and equal treatment that are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act thus infringing on the civil liberties of those who may wish to seek employment with one of these groups.

Civil rights - 1. Also called civil liberties. Governmentally recognized and legally protected rights and liberties of people in areas of personal autonomy, personal welfare, and participation in the political, business, and social life of the nation. In the United States, these include political and personal liberties protected by the Constitution and freedom from private governmental discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as race, sex, religion, and disability.

Therefore, Webster's Dictionary of the Law illustrates that there is a great deal of overlap in the areas of civil liberties and civil rights. However, this dictionary emphasizes that civil rights are the right to be free from certain unfair treatment by others, while civil liberties are the right to be free to exercise one's beliefs.

The aforementioned civil rights statutes and laws helped to ensure that all citizens would be treated equally under that law and have equal access to gainful employment and public facilities. These rights served to enhance civil liberties in that when people are treated equally and can work where they want to work and go where they want to go, they feel more personal autonomy. When people are not prevented from making a certain choice based on classifications such as race, sex, or religion, they now have the freedom to exercise that right to make that choice to suit their personal wants and desires. An example of this is antidiscrimination in housing law.

The most important expansion of civil rights in the United States was the enactment of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. In response to the 13th Amendment, various states enacted 'black codes" which were intended to limit the civil rights of the newly freed slaves. In 1968 the 14th amendment was passed to counter the 'black codes" and ensure that no state "shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of immunities of the citizens of the United States...[or] deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" (Civil Rights).

Additionally, when discussing civil rights, it is importa

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