Civil Law
Civil laws govern the civil rights of individuals. Years ago when there were no real civil laws, it was not uncommon for racist, sexist and offensive behavior to be flaunted. While those things do still happen, there are now ways that an individual can legally protect themselves against discrimination because of civil laws. The actual definition of civil laws are the personal rights that the government has given to American citizens. A civil law can also effectively protect individuals against ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation discrimination.
•Voting is an important way to make sure that the civil laws in a democracy are upheld. Besides the fact that women and minorities fought very hard to vote, a voter can support the politician of their choice. One should look at the candidate’s policies on civil laws and protecting them. Some candidates address civil laws while others skirt the issue. A person may want to put their vote with the candidate who has strong policies on civil laws that they agree with. Encouraging others to vote is also a good idea. Protecting civil rights by making sure that civil laws are upheld is part of what makes a democracy special.
•A civil law should be protected by everyone. If citizens do not protect their own civil laws, then no one is going to do it. Because of this, situations related to civil laws should be carefully scrutinized. All people have the right to be treated equally under the civil laws. This includes the fact that a civil law exists to allow people freedom of the press, free speech and the right to assemble publicly, as long as they are not violent. If an individual observes a person’s civil rights being violated, there are steps that can be taken to address the issue. One should note the date, time and incident that occurred when the civil law was broken so that one can report it.
•A formal complaint should be filed against the person or company that violated the civil laws of America. The organization that handles the incidents where the civil law was broken is called the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. They exist to make sure that the civil laws in America are not broken; if they are proper action must take place. Violations of civil laws can be reported right on their website. If others were there to witness the breaking of the civil law, they should also file official complaints. By addressing the issue, an individual is asserting authority. If they do not address it, the entity who violated the civil law will go unpunished and may continue to break civil laws.
American civil laws also include the freedoms listed in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The American government decided years ago that it does not matter what race or gender an individual is. Each person is entitled to the same rights and privileges.
