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The ACLU: Who We Are, What We Do
What is the ACLU?
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nationwide nonprofit organization of about 300,000 members. There is a headquarters office in New York and a legislative office in Washington, DC. The American Civil Liberties Union
of Florida is the state affiliate of the national ACLU. We have approximately
12,500 members. The state office is in downtown Miami, and there
are chapters in 14 communities around the state.
When did the ACLU begin?
The ACLU was founded in 1920 by people who believed that the Bill of Rights was only a piece of paper unless there was a citizen watchdog group seeking to have it enforced. The ACLU of Florida was founded in 1965 (and the Greater Mami Chapter of the ACLU was founded in 1955 -- the first ACLU Chapter organized south of the Mason-Dixon line) in an effort to protect the constitutional rights of all Floridians.What is the ACLU's purpose?
The ACLU seeks to
defend and extend individual freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
These include:
What does the ACLU do?
The ACLU pursues its work in three main areas:1) Litigation - Filing lawsuits in federal and state courts. The ACLU of Florida has two full-time staff attorneys and a North Florida Legislative Staff Counsel. But we rely on the volunteer efforts of several hundred attorneys throughout Florida.
2) Legislative Work - Mobilizing citizens to support pro-civil liberties laws - and oppose anti-civil liberties laws - in the state legislature and local governments. The ACLU of Florida has a full-time legislative staff counsel who serves as our lobbyist in Tallahassee. The ACLU is nonpartisan, though, and does not endorse political candidates. We do support ballot initiatives that support civil liberties.
3) Public Education - Providing
information to the public about citizen rights and what the ACLU is doing
to promote them. The ACLU has a speakers bureau, publishes a newsletter
and numerous pamphlets, and sponsors public forums and special events.
The ACLU of Florida office has an extensive resource center available to
the general public and students.
Where do ACLU policies come from?
The ACLU has policies on a myriad of issues. An 80-member national board of directors decides on all policies. Policies for state ACLU affiliates generally are the same as nationals but occasionally differ; "Unity but not uniformity" is our organizational watchword. Policies for the ACLU of Florida are set by the state board of directors. On a day-to-day basis, the staff is responsible for implementing policies.How does the ACLU decide to take legal cases?
Some cases come from citizens who call our complaint line, which is staffed by interns and volunteers. Other cases come from attorneys who approach the ACLU for assistance. The ACLU files a lawsuit only
as a last resort after efforts to settle out of court have failed.
Each potential case is assigned to our staff attorneys or a volunteer attorney
for research and legal analysis. A state Legal Panel comprised of volunteer
ACLU attorneys evaluates which cases should be accepted, and the state
board of directors reviews their recommendations.
Where does the ACLU get its money?
Almost totally from members and donors. The ACLU receives no government funding and some support from foundations. We rely on membership dues, tax-deductible contributions through our Annual Gift Campaign and occasional fees from legal cases.What is the ACLU doing these days?
The ACLU is usually involved in numerous issues, ranging from defending abortion rights to dealing with police misconduct to opposing censorship of the arts and the death penalty. Our newsletter, The Torch, as well as the ACLU of Florida web site (www.aclufl.org) are the best sources of up-to-date information on our most recent activities.Does the ACLU use volunteers who are not lawyers?
Yes; in many ways - for help in the office, assisting at special events, participating in our legislative campaigns, as speakers for schools and community groups. Anyone wanting to help out should fill out a volunteer information sheet and send it to the state office.How does one become an ACLU member?
Anyone can join, and member ship dues are only $20 a year, $30 dollars for couples. Simply fill out a membership form and mail a check to: ACLU-FL, 4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 340, Miami, FL 33137.General ACLU of Central Florida e-mail:info@aclucentralflorida.org
requests
for legal assistance
click
here for ACLU of Central Florida legal assistance