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Civil Rights, Liberties, and Justice

Top Features

The Erosion of Rights

The Erosion of Rights

New Report from the Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights and CAP details the erosion of civil rights enforcement under the Bush administration.

Other Civil Rights, Liberties, and Justice Features

May 6, 2008

The ID Divide

The recent Supreme Court ruling requiring voter ID in Indiana threatens voter disenfranchisement and highlights the growing “ID divide” in American society, write Cassandra Butts and Peter Swire. By Cassandra Q. Butts, Peter Swire
May 1, 2008

Conmemorando las Marchas de los Inmigrantes del 1 de Mayo

Los eventos de hoy apoyando los derechos civiles de los inmigrantes reviven el dolor y enojo que los provocó, escribe Vanessa Cárdenas. By Vanessa Cárdenas
May 1, 2008

Commemorating Today’s May 1 Immigrant Marches

Today’s nationwide series of marches in support of immigrants’ civil rights recalls the pain and anger that prompted them in the first place, writes Vanessa Cardenas. By Vanessa Cárdenas
April 29, 2008

The Right Way to Pressure Beijing

When the U.S. Congress recently passed a resolution calling on Beijing to end its repression of dissent in Tibet and open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a Chinese spokesperson declared that the resolution had “seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” Nor was this the first time the Chinese had expressed emotional distress at some political gesture. Everyone from the Icelandic singer Björk, who shouted “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of a concert in Shanghai, to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met with the Dalai Lama in Ottawa, has been accused of hurting the feelings of the Chinese. Indeed, the Chinese might be the only people who regard the rantings of CNN’s Jack Cafferty, who referred to the Chinese government as “goons and thugs,” as worth taking seriously. Nerves this sensitive bespeak either a severe case of adolescent angst or a revealing insight into national character, or both. It is hard to imagine Vladimir Putin or Robert Mugabe, or George W. Bush for that matter, confessing to having hurt feelings about anything, much less the kind of symbolic ephemera that seem to regularly rile the Chinese. By Bill Schulz
April 28, 2008

Disenfranchising American Voters

The decision to uphold an Indiana law requiring photo ID to vote disenfranchises those that need access the most: the poor and minorities.
April 19, 2008

Tortured Explanations

Torture Team shows that those who drew up the United States' post-9/11 policy on interrogation were woefully inexperienced and badly advised. By Ken Gude
April 10, 2008

Online Behavioral Advertising: Technical Steps Needed to Ensure Consumer Control

Peter Swire and Annie Anton outline principles for protecting privacy in online advertising in FTC testimony. By Peter Swire, Annie I.
April 7, 2008

This Week in Congress 4.7.08 - 4.11.08

CAP prepares you for testimony from Petraeus and Crocker, the Senate housing package, and international trade and the farm bill.
April 2, 2008

Real Problems with the REAL ID

Before the REAL ID Act is implemented, Secretary Chertoff and Congress need to address serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
March 14, 2008

Endgame

Mark Agrast writes that House leaders have proposed a responsible compromise on intelligence surveillance. Again. By Mark Agrast
March 13, 2008

Think Again: Catch-22 Revisited: The Bush Administration and the Public’s “Right to Know”

While primaries and scandals distract the media, the Bush administration's defense of torture doesn't get the attention it deserves. By Eric Alterman, George Zornick
February 28, 2008

Interactive Map: The Latino Vote in 2008

The growing Latino population will play a key role in the upcoming election.
February 7, 2008

Issue Pulse: Waterboarding Is Torture

The White House said yesterday that waterboarding is legal, but the expert consensus indicates otherwise.
February 1, 2008

Privacy Key to Yahoo Merger; Microsoft Bid Must Ensure Safeguards

Antitrust review of proposed $44.6 billion merger requires close examination of the privacy of search, argues Peter Swire. By Peter Swire
January 30, 2008

Shutter This Death Trap

By Spencer P. Boyer
January 28, 2008

The State of Latinos in the Union

A by the numbers look at the disproportionate setbacks that Latinos have faced during the Bush White House’s tenure.
January 24, 2008

New Regulations Fail to Address Security, Privacy

New ID regulations will change driver’s licenses while putting millions of Americans’ personal information at risk.
January 9, 2008

Supreme Court Takes on Voter ID Laws

The Court today considers a voter ID law that disproportionately affects minorities, the poor, and the elderly and causes disenfranchisement.
January 4, 2008

Heeding Roberts’ Call: Chief Justice Calls for Judicial Pay Reform

Federal judges’ pay is alarmingly inadequate and hampering the judicial branch’s ability to attract the best and most diverse pool of judges.
December 13, 2007

Ending Torture: CIA Tapes Spur House Action

The House of Representatives passes comprehensive torture ban after CIA tape scandal. The Senate must follow swiftly, writes Mark Agrast. By Mark Agrast
December 5, 2007

Return to a Proven Path: Established Systems Can Handle Terrorists

Hoffman and Gude argue that the criminal justice system can be used to try terrorists without undermining liberties or efforts to combat terrorism. By Michael Hoffman, Ken Gude
December 3, 2007

Taking on Hate Crimes

Measure under consideration in Congress, and under fire from President Bush, would make a long-needed update to federal hate crime law. By Winnie Stachelberg, Josh Rosenthal
December 3, 2007

Unequal Taxes on Equal Benefits

Workers who have an unmarried domestic partner are taxed doubly on employer-provided health coverage. A new CAP report offers a solution.
October 31, 2007

Not the Right Choice

Mark Agrast on why Mukasey is not the right choice for attorney general. By Mark Agrast
October 31, 2007

Safeguarding Liberty and Security Under FISA

Morton Halperin testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee about what procedures should be put in place to make transparent the rules of FISA. By Morton H. Halperin
October 22, 2007

One Inch at a Time

Winnie Stachelberg emphasizes the precedents for moving forward on, and building from, change. Even if compromising isn’t the perfect solution. By Winnie Stachelberg
October 15, 2007

Pursuing the Global Common Good

When is war justified? Is the use of torture ever acceptable? These are some of the issues in a new book by policy experts and faith leaders, published by the Center for American Progress.
October 10, 2007

Restoring Our Liberties: New Surveillance Bill Would Begin to Restore Checks and Balances

Mark D. Agrast details why new surveillance legislation on Capitol Hill would better protect both civil liberties and national security. By Mark Agrast
October 1, 2007

The Roberts Four: Men on a Mission

As a new Supreme Court term opens, a core of four hard-line conservative justices are eager to implement a plan for radically remaking the Court.
October 1, 2007

The Roberts Court Round Three: What to Look For

As a new Supreme Court term opens, a core of four hard-line conservative justices are eager to implement a plan for radically remaking the court.
September 27, 2007

Think Again: Jena, Finally

If Jena has shown one thing it’s that not only will racism continue on, but some in the mainstream media will always ignore or encourage it. By Eric Alterman
September 17, 2007

Evaluating Bush's Pick for Attorney General

Mark Agrast argues that the Senate must carefully consider whether Bush's pick for attorney general will restore integrity to the Justice Department. By Mark Agrast
August 27, 2007

The Department of Justice and the American People Deserve a Break

Mark Agrast on why we need more than just a change in leadership to repair the damage done during Gonzales' tenure. By Mark Agrast
August 16, 2007

Think Again: FISA and the Founders

Congress’ passage of a new FISA law once again raises the question of whether democracies can “do” foreign policy patiently and competently. By Eric Alterman
August 7, 2007

Europe Confronts Islam

Reluctance to embrace the Muslim community in Western Europe threatens to alienate people who are key to curbing future terrorist attacks. By Andrew Tillman
July 30, 2007

Signing Off On Discrimination

Bush brazenly misinterprets a measure to amend an important anti-discrimination measure in a statement threatening to veto the bill.
July 23, 2007

This Week in Congress: 7.23.07 – 7.27.07

From appropriations bills to the Farm Bill, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week in Congress.
July 17, 2007

The Voting Section’s Ethical Cloud

A congressional hearing today will probe abuses in the Justice Department’s Voting section detailed in CAP and CCCR’s "Erosion of Rights" report.
July 12, 2007

Think Again: The Pure Politics of “Privilege”

The Wall Street Journal's editorial page predictably fails to acknowledge legal wrongdoings of a presidency that practically beg for investigation. By Eric Alterman
July 11, 2007

Inaction Begets Reaction: Stalled Immigration Reform Sparks Problems

After comprehensive immigration reform stalled, local authorities less able to deal with the issue step into the breach, writes Henry Fernandez. By Henry Fernandez
July 11, 2007

Closing the Ledbetter Loophole

Soon after the Supreme Court's rollback of a workplace anti-discrimination law, Congress considers a measure to ensure equal treatment.
July 9, 2007

This Week in Congress: 7.9.07 - 7.13.07

From Iraq to children’s health care to housing, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
July 5, 2007

Think Again: Lies, Justice, and the Punditocracy's "Place"

Libby’s commuted sentence makes you wonder what happened to the days when lying under oath was the worst thing in the world. By Eric Alterman
July 5, 2007

Public Wants to Safeguard Civil Liberties

Recent bomb scares are bringing questions of terrorism back to the fore, but the public doesn’t think we need to sacrifice our civil liberties to stay safe. By Ruy Teixeira
June 28, 2007

The Politicization of the Supreme Court

Justices Roberts and Alito have run roughshod over critical rule of law principles that limit the role of politics in judicial decision-making.
June 28, 2007

The Court’s Forgotten Promises

Court rulings are a step backwards from Brown v. Board of Education and report shows that it could be a severe blow to our educational system.
June 27, 2007

Talking Points: Roberts and Alito

John Roberts and Samuel Alito have joined with the Supreme Court's conservatives to form a solid bloc of votes for the Bush political agenda.
June 27, 2007

Supreme Court Decisions in Peril

This term the Supreme Court’s new majority limited or expressly overruled key decisions protecting reproductive freedom, religious freedom, and more.
June 27, 2007

In Their Own Words: Roberts and Alito

Roberts and Alito pursued political agendas over the Supreme Court's last term. They promised otherwise at their confirmation hearings.
June 26, 2007

Habeas Corpus Extends to Gitmo

Bush may or may not close Gitmo, but Congress still needs to ensure anyone can challenge their confinement in court, says Ken Gude. By Ken Gude

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CAP’s policy priorities for U.S. domestic and economic policymaking center on building opportunities for all Americans to share in the American Dream. Our policy work concentrates on the core engines that drive equal opportunity, economic mobility, and shared prosperity—education, health care, housing, government oversight, tax reform, and technology innovation. Our progressive domestic and economic priorities underscore our commitment to government that works for the common good.