The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties

This three-volume encyclopedia is presented with the aim of examining historical issues of civil liberties in the United States and their relevance to major current events such as George W. Bush's "War on Terror." Chief editor Finkelman (law and public policy, Albany Law School) presents 1423 alphabetical entries that introduce an audience intended to encompass lawyers, scholars, students, and general readers to a wide range of topics, including: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the history of civil liberties; cases, trials, and important court decisions; associations, societies, organizations, and government bodies; literature, entertainments, media, and art; slavery, crime, and war; religion, censorship, and privacy; and peoples, places, and events. Coverage includes traditional civil liberties--freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition--as well as newer concerns such as privacy, the rights of the accused, and national security. Articles range in length from 250 words for a brief biography to 6000 words for in-depth analysis of concepts and issues. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)