What does the term "Civil Rights" refer to in the context of citizens?

The term "Civil Rights" in the context of citizens refers specifically to the rights that guarantee individuals’ ability to participate fully in the civil and political life of the society in which they live, without discrimination or repression. This encompasses the rights to political participation, freedom from discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, or religion, and the ability to enjoy social freedoms.

Civil Rights are fundamentally about ensuring equality and enabling people to participate in society on an equal footing. They serve as the framework that protects citizens from unfair treatment and provides the basis for various forms of advocacy and government oversight to promote fairness and equality.

While the other options touch upon important aspects of rights, they do not encompass the broader definition and scope of "Civil Rights." For instance, the rights of aliens in the U.S. are specifically about non-citizens and do not reflect the civil rights guaranteed to citizens. Unalienable rights are often discussed in terms of natural rights but may not pertain directly to the structured protections of civil rights. Lastly, rights related to economic equality might overlap with civil rights, particularly in discussions of social justice, but they do not fully capture the civil rights movement’s focus on ensuring equal treatment in social and political spheres.