Your Rights and Freedoms
Your rights and freedoms are the protections that government owes the people it serves, and the limits on what government may do. They come from the Constitution, federal and state laws, and court decisions. Congress, state legislatures, agencies, and courts shape and enforce them, and they reach speech, fairness, privacy, work, school, health, and family life.
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All Articles on Your Rights and Freedoms
A Guide to White House Press Briefings
Cable news thrives on clips of "fiery confrontations" and "explosive exchanges" that make the daily briefing look like a verbal boxing match. But is…
Executive Privilege: The Controversial Presidential Power
Executive privilege is the asserted power of the President of the United States, along with other high-level officials in the executive branch, to withhold…
What Happens to Top-Secret Documents at the End of the Day?
In government secrecy, few terms are as evocative as the "burn bag." Popular culture has cemented its image in the public consciousness: a simple…
How Article IV Guarantees Your Rights
While the first three articles of the Constitution establish what the federal government can do, Article IV addresses something more fundamental: how the United…
How the Constitution Guarantees Your Rights in Every State
Often overshadowed by the Bill of Rights or the articles establishing the three branches of government, Article IV of the U.S. Constitution serves as…
Your Right to a Fair Trial: How Federal Courts Work
When Americans think of their rights, they often turn to the Bill of Rights—freedom of speech, religion, and the press. None of these rights…
Why Burning the American Flag Is Legal
Burning the American flag as political protest is legal in the United States. The practice enjoys constitutional protection under the First Amendment, which the…
How to Contact the U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor protects the welfare of America's workforce by administering and enforcing more than 180 federal laws covering approximately 10 million…
How to Contact the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration serves nearly 69 million Americans monthly, providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits funded by payroll taxes from approximately 176 million…
How to Contact Your School District
Local school districts are one of the most impactful forms of government in American families' lives. They're responsible for educating nearly 50 million public…