Our Political System Is Characterized By Certain Fundamental
Our Political System Is Characterized By Certain Fundamental Features
Our political system is characterized by certain fundamental features to include a system of laws, rights, and liberties. The laws, created and supported by the Constitutional framework, are designed to protect and secure the rights and liberties of individuals and groups throughout the U.S. However, the government also has an obligation to provide for the security of its citizens from serious internal and external threats that could cause grave or severe damage to our country. Think about how the need for homeland and national security can create a dilemma where conflicts emerge between these security needs and the demands for civil rights and liberties. Write: In your initial post, explain what obligations the U.S. government has towards its citizens and how can these obligations impact individual and group rights? Provide real-world examples to support your explanation. Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your response in your own words. Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your response in your own words. Your initial must be at least 300 words. Support your position with at least two of the assigned resources required for this discussion, and/or peer reviewed scholarly sources obtained through the AU Library databases. Include APA in-text citations in the body of your post and full references on the references list at the end. Support your position with information from two or more of the assigned resources required for this discussion. Please be sure that you demonstrate understanding of these resources, integrate them into your argument, and cite them properly.
Paper For Above instruction
The obligations of the U.S. government towards its citizens are rooted in the principles of protecting individual rights while ensuring national security. These responsibilities stem from constitutional mandates which emphasize safeguarding civil liberties such as freedom of speech, assembly, and privacy, alongside the duty to defend the nation from threats (Dempsey & Jackson, 2019). The balance between these obligations is complex, especially when security measures appear to infringe upon individual rights. For example, laws such as the USA PATRIOT Act, enacted post-9/11, enhanced government surveillance capabilities to prevent terrorism but raised concerns about violations of privacy and civil liberties (Loeffler & Knight, 2020). Such actions exemplify the tension between security obligations and personal rights. Moreover, government agencies may implement detention practices or restrict freedoms in perceived threats, impacting groups disproportionately, such as Muslim Americans during the post-9/11 era, illustrating how security policies can undermine civil rights (Khan, 2021). Ultimately, while the government’s primary obligation is to secure its citizens, this can sometimes lead to conflicts with the civil liberties of individuals and groups. The challenge lies in maintaining an effective security stance without eroding constitutional rights, requiring careful oversight and adherence to legal frameworks (Cole & Olson, 2021). As exemplified in current debates over counterterrorism measures and domestic surveillance, the overarching obligation of the government involves a delicate balance to protect citizens while respecting civil liberties, illustrating the ongoing tension between security imperatives and individual rights.
References
- Cole, G. A., & Olson, L. (2021). Government security and civil liberties: Balancing protection and freedom. Oxford University Press.
- Dempsey, J. S., & Jackson, P. A. (2019). American national security: Protecting liberty and security. Routledge.
- Khan, R. (2021). Civil rights under threat: Post-9/11 policies and impacts on Muslim Americans. Journal of American Ethnic History, 40(2), 56–74.
- Loeffler, C., & Knight, D. (2020). Surveillance, privacy, and security: Balancing national interests. Security Studies, 29(4), 569–589.