Law and Liberty

Law and liberty are central concerns of Western political thought, and conflicting visions of law and liberty are responsible for some of the greatest upheavals in history. The American Revolution, for instance, was founded on the conviction that the British had violated the rule of law and deprived the colonists of their rights and liberties. Since the birth of the republic, these issues have been fought over and decided at all levels of government. At root is an uncomfortable truth: some people are eager to deprive others of their liberty, and they often attempt to do so through a formal legal process. A proper legal system therefore must be on guard against such predation; eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Independent Institute fellows have written extensively on civil liberties and the legal process. Many of our publications have focused on the erosion of liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and how the judicial system in the United States has become steadily more restrictive and threatening the liberties of peaceful people in the course of their everyday lives.

Books

The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights

The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance
David Beito
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Is Social Justice Just?

Robert Whaples, Michael Munger, Christopher Coyne, Jordan B. Peterson
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April 11, 2025 | News Article
President Trump’s protectionist policies are erratic, ill-defined, and incoherent.
Phillip W. Magness
April 11, 2025 | News Article
More delays and double standards for Los Angeles fire victims.
K. Lloyd Billingsley
April 10, 2025 | News Article
Illinois court shows need to lay the issue to rest.
Stephen P. Halbrook
April 8, 2025 | News Article
The third time isn’t the charm.
Stephen P. Halbrook
April 8, 2025 | News Article
Security forces continue pattern of abductions and secret detentions with little global scrutiny
Alvaro Vargas Llosa
April 7, 2025 | News Article
In a multipolar age, having just one global policeman won’t cut it.
Ivan Eland
April 7, 2025 | News Article
President Donald Trump’s new tariff campaign, imposing heavy taxes on imports...
William F. Shughart II
April 6, 2025 | News Article
By March 24, Los Angeles had issued only four rebuilding permits for fire victims.
K. Lloyd Billingsley
April 5, 2025 | News Article
The judicial establishment is angry. President Trump has called for the...
William J. Watkins, Jr.
April 2, 2025 | News Article
Congress should require that pleadings seeking a nationwide injunction be randomly assigned.
William J. Watkins, Jr.