Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties

As the legality of wiretaps is questioned and the teaching of intelligent design in our schools is debated, it is important to understand the issues of civil liberties and the meaning of freedom in American life. This major Encyclopedia in American history and law is the first devoted to examining the issues of civil liberties and their relevance to major current events while providing a historical context and a philosophical discussion of the evolution of civil liberties. Coverage includes the traditional civil liberties: freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. In addition, it also covers concerns such as privacy, the rights of the accused, and national security. Alphabetically organized for ease of access, the articles range in length from 250 words for a brief biography or careful definition to 5000 words for in-depth analyses. Entries are organized around the following themes: * Organizations and Government Bodies * Legislation and Legislative Action, Statutes, and Acts * Historical Overviews * Biographies * Cases * Themes, Issues, Concepts, and Events The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties is an essential reference for students and researchers as well as for the general reader to help better understand the world we live in today.Finkelman, Paul is the author of 'Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties', published 2006 under ISBN 9780415943420 and ISBN 0415943426.