What is the best description of civil liberties?

Civil liberties are the fundamental rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to individuals and protect them from unwarranted or excessive government interference. These liberties are entrenched in laws, constitutions, and legal precedents, and they often embody the core principles of a democratic society. The best description of civil liberties would encompass the following attributes:

1. They are rights that are essential to free and fair individual existence and political expression. 2. These rights are legally recognized and protected, typically in a constitution. 3. Civil liberties include freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, the right to a fair trial, and privacy, among others. 4. They serve to limit the power of the government by setting a bar for how far state authorities can intrude into personal lives. 5. Civil liberties are subject to limitations to balance the rights of the individual against the needs of the community. For example, free speech doesn’t allow for inciting violence or causing public panic.

It's worth mentioning that civil liberties may vary by country based on the cultural, historical, and legal context, but in democratic societies, they share common features that are aimed at protecting individuals from oppression and enabling them to engage in the political process.