civil rights

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Frank-law \Frank"-law`\, n. [Frank free + law.] (Eng. Law)
   The liberty of being sworn in courts, as a juror or witness;
   one of the ancient privileges of a freeman; free and common
   law; -- an obsolete expression signifying substantially the
   same as the American expression {civil rights}. --Abbot.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

civil right \civil right\, civil rights \civil rights\
   a legal right or rights belonging to a person by reason of
   citizenship, including especially the fundamental freedoms
   and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and
   subsequent acts of congress, including the right to legal and
   social and economic equality.
   [WordNet 1.5]

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