American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non-governmental organization whose stated goal is to "defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person ... by the Constitution and laws of the United States." Lawsuits brought by the ACLU have been influential in several important developments in U.S. constitutional law, and it has over 400,000 members as of 2005. The ACLU provides lawyers and legal expertise in cases where it believes an individual's or group of individuals' rights are being violated by the government. In many cases where it does not provide legal representation, the ACLU submits amicus curiae briefs in support of its positions. The ACLU has never officially supported or opposed a political candidate, and is not aligned with any political party, though it has been harshly critical of various elected officials of both major parties over the years. Its stances have engendered criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, though conservatives are much more likely than liberals to criticize the organization (see Critics of the ACLU).

History, Structure and Leadership

The ACLU was formed in 1920 as the National Civil Liberties Bureau (NCLB). Founders include Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and Roger Nash Baldwin among others.

Related Topics:
1920 - Crystal Eastman - Albert DeSilver - Roger Nash Baldwin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the year of its birth, the ACLU was formed to protect aliens threatened with deportation, and U.S. nationals threatened with criminal charges by U.S. Attorney General Alexander Mitchell Palmer for their communist / socialist activities and agendas (see Palmer Raids). It also opposed attacks on the rights of the Industrial Workers of the World and other labor unions to meet and organize.

Related Topics:
Deportation - U.S. Attorney General - Alexander Mitchell Palmer - Palmer Raids - Industrial Workers of the World - Labor union

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Currently, the leadership of the ACLU includes Executive Director Anthony Romero, President Nadine Strossen, and Legal Director Steven Shapiro.

Related Topics:
Anthony Romero - Nadine Strossen - Steven Shapiro

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although the ACLU has its national headquarters located in New York City, the organization does most of its work through locally based affiliates that are located throughout the United States. These affiliates maintain a certain amount of autonomy from the National organization, and are able to work independently from each other. Many of the ACLU's cases originate from the local level and are handled by lawyers from the local affiliates.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At times, this has led to conflicts between the various branches. For instance, the national ACLU refused to get involved in Japanese-American internment cases during World War II. Against the threat of being kicked from the organization, the Northern California branch litigated Korematsu v. United States, taking it to the Supreme Court.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~