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The American system of government is founded on two counterbalancing principles: that the majority of the people governs, through democratically elected representatives; and that the power even of a democratic majority must be limited, to ensure individual rights.
Majority power is limited by the Constitution's Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920.
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:
- Your First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
- Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
- Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
- Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.
We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.
If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled.
The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state.
The ACLU has maintained the position that civil liberties must be respected, even in times of national emergency. The ACLU is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. We do not receive any government funding. Learn more about joining the ACLU.
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ACLU Mourns Marvin Johnson (3/21/2008)
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its deep sorrow over the death of First Amendment Counsel Marvin Johnson, who passed away last night after a long battle with complications from diabetes. Before he joined the Washington Legislative Office in March 2000, he served as the Executive Director of the ACLU of Wyoming and before that as its board chair.
Washington Legislative Office Hires New State Legislative Counsel (3/13/2008)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union recently welcomed Larry Frankel as the new State Legislative Counsel for the Washington Legislative Office. Frankel oversees the WLO State Legislative Department, which provides support to the 53 ACLU affiliate offices across the country. The State Legislative Department bolsters the ACLU’s work in state legislatures by analyzing legislation, providing background research, offering legislative strategy and acting as a liaison between policy experts and ACLU state lobbyists working on the ground.
ACLU National Office Congratulates ACLU Of San Diego & Imperial Counties On 75 Years Of Defending Civil Rights (3/3/2008)
NEW YORK - The following statement can be attributed to American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero:
“As the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties celebrates its 75th anniversary, the ACLU National office congratulates the affiliate for its tireless efforts in defending the Constitution and upholding civil rights. Since its founding three quarters of a century ago by Helen Marston, the San Diego affiliate has been ever vigilant in defending the civil rights of all people who live in this border region and has handled some of the most important cases in history regarding the rights of farm workers and immigrants in the U.S.
MCLU Welcomes Two New Staffers (1/15/2008)
PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Civil Liberties Union has added two new staff members to its Portland office. Brianna Twofoot has been hired as the MCLU’s new field organizer, and Marian McCue as the new communications specialist.
NYCLU Unveils New Advocacy Department
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