What are civil rights?

Civil rights are fundamentally about the protection of individuals' freedoms and the guarantee that all citizens can engage fully in the social and political life of their community without discrimination. These rights ensure freedom from arbitrary and oppressive treatment and include protections against discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, and disability.

The correct choice highlights that civil rights are specifically focused on safeguarding individual freedoms from infringement, ensuring that all people have equal protection under the laws and the opportunity to participate in civic life. This definition encompasses a wide range of protections and may include rights related to voting, fair housing, education, and employment, establishing a foundation for social equality.

The other options are less accurate in defining civil rights. Some suggest that rights are only granted at a state level, which overlooks the broader federal protections that exist. Others imply that civil rights are strictly about economic decisions or are reserved for government officials, which misrepresents the universal nature of civil rights as they are intended for all people, not just specific groups.