Final answer:
Civil liberties are protections from governmental interference in fundamental personal freedoms, while political rights, or civil rights, are entitlements that require government action to protect, especially for marginalized groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between civil liberties and political rights is essential in understanding the relationship between individuals and the government. Civil liberties are freedoms from governmental interference, essentially placing a limit on the government's ability to restrict individuals. These are fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and privacy. Political rights, often referred to as civil rights, pertain to entitlements that require government action to ensure and protect, especially for groups facing discrimination. Political rights enable citizens to participate in the political process, illustrating the government's role in actively safeguarding these rights.
Examining cases from the United States, the difference becomes clearer through constitutional amendments. The First Amendment and the Bill of Rights, provide protections for civil liberties, prohibiting governmental overreach into personal freedoms. In contrast, the 15th and 19th Amendments, which granted voting rights regardless of race or gender, are examples of political rights that necessitated government intervention to correct societal inequities.