ACLU Structure

“The ACLU is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country…

WHAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS GUARANTEES

• Your First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
• Your right to equal protection under the law – equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
• Your right to due process – fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
• Your right to privacy – freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs…

We continue to tackle the thorniest issues confronting our nation – racism, sexism, homophobia, religious intolerance, and censorship. The ACLU’s mission remains realizing the promise of the Bill of Rights for all and expanding the reach of its guarantees to new areas.”

The ACLU has two main governing bodies: the National Board of Directors and the National Advisory Council. The other two major components are the Affiliates and the Biennial Conference.

In addition, the ACLU implements National Projects to carry out education and litigation on issues of particular concern to the ACLU:

• Capital Punishment Project (Durham, NC)
• Drug Law Reform Project (Santa Cruz, CA)
• Free Speech Project (New York, NY)
• HIV/AIDS Project (New York, NY)
• Human Rights Project (New York, NY)
• Immigrants’ Rights Project (New York, NY and San Francisco, CA)
• LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Rights Project (New York, NY)
• National Security Project (New York, NY)
• Prisoners’ Rights Project (New York, NY)
• Racial Justice Project (New York, NY)
• Religion and Belief Project (New York, NY)
• Reproductive Freedom Project (New York, NY)
• Technology and Liberty Project (Seattle, WA)
• Voting Rights Project (Atlanta, GA)
• Women’s Rights Project (New York, NY)

If there is a policy regarding the issue of a case, then the decision to take the case will be made at the state level by either the affiliate’s staff, special lawyers’ committee, or the affiliate Board of Directors. If the case is potentially exceptionally controversial, the staff and the affiliate’s board will hold a consultation.

If there is no policy regarding the issue of a case, the matter will be referred to the appropriate committee of the National Board of Directors who will decide on the policy and will provide a recommendation.

If the matter represents an emergency, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors will decide whether the ACLU should take the case. In any case, very few decisions are reached by a single individual or without wide consultations and are rarely unanimous.

The ACLU is involved in nearly 6,000 cases per year. It appears before the US Supreme Court more than any other organization except the US Department of Justice.

78% Grants and Contributions
18% Bequests
4% Donated Legal Services