One of the most controversial civil liberties guaranteed in the Constitution is the right to bear arms. For most of U.S. history, the government has regulated the kinds of firearms that can be owned and who can own them. More recently, a series of court decisions as well as state legislative actions have sought to tighten requirements for firearms purchase and ownership, and in some cases, loosen firearms regulations. How extensive is the right to bear arms?

Voting by mail used to be considered a practice mostly for the elderly, disabled, or military members. In the post-pandemic era, many Americans vote by mail or by placing their ballot in a drop box. However, the rules governing these practices vary widely across America’s states.

Religious beliefs are intensely personal, which is one reason why the U.S. Constitution contains a guarantee about freedom of religion. At the same time, our civil liberties are limited in specific ways. How does the Constitution allow religious freedom while simultaneously limiting what people can do in the name of pursuing these beliefs?