Discussions about civil rights highlight their crucial role in shaping American democracy, as described in important documents like the Constitution. Although civil rights are usually associated with laws and politics, they also affect how people live, how the government treats its citizens, and how people treat each other. Over time, civil rights have changed, growing to protect groups once ignored, but sometimes shrinking during difficult times. As we move forward, we expect to see new rights develop and some old ones fade, mirroring changes in our understanding of rights, citizenship, and democracy.
