Legal Definitions - American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people under the U.S. Constitution.

Founded in 1920, the ACLU works to ensure that everyone in the United States enjoys fundamental freedoms, regardless of their background. They achieve this through various methods, including:

• Litigation: Filing lawsuits to challenge laws or government actions that infringe upon constitutional rights.
• Legislative Lobbying: Advocating for policies and laws that protect civil liberties.
• Public Education: Informing the public about their rights and important civil liberties issues.

The ACLU focuses on a broad range of issues, such as protecting freedom of speech, ensuring voting rights, advocating for racial and LGBTQ+ equality, safeguarding reproductive freedom, and upholding privacy rights.

Here are some examples of situations where the ACLU's work would apply:

• Imagine a city council passes an ordinance that severely restricts where and when peaceful public demonstrations can occur, effectively silencing community groups who wish to protest local government decisions. The ACLU might step in to challenge this ordinance in court, arguing that it violates citizens' First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Their involvement would aim to protect the ability of individuals to express their views publicly without undue government interference.

• Consider a state legislature enacting a new voting law that requires a very specific type of photo identification, which many elderly citizens or low-income individuals in rural areas find difficult to obtain. This law could disproportionately prevent certain groups from casting their ballots. The ACLU could file a lawsuit, contending that such a law creates an unfair barrier to the right to vote and potentially discriminates against specific populations, thereby working to ensure equitable access to the democratic process for all eligible citizens.

• Suppose a school district implements a policy allowing school administrators to search students' personal cell phones without any reasonable suspicion, claiming it's for general safety. This policy could lead to intrusive searches of private communications and data. The ACLU might challenge this policy, arguing it infringes upon students' Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, and their broader right to privacy. Their action would seek to ensure that students' constitutional protections extend to their personal devices within the school environment.