Habeas corpus
From RationalWiki
Habeas corpus is a writ used to seek relief from unjust detention by the government. It's main purpose is to make sure that the feds can't just throw people in jail because they feel like it - they need a good reason.
Some people suspend habeas corpus when they feel like it, like Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. (Of course, there is an explicit provision for the suspension of habeas corpus during times of rebellion and insurrection, such as the Civil War.)
The George W. Bush administration conveniently ignores the entire notion of habeas corpus, something along the lines of "we need to suspend it to fight the terrorists, if you're not with us you're with the terrorists, you should be deported to France" nonsense. Interestingly, the purpose for habeas corpus is to prevent that kind of thing. Fortunately for silly civil libertarians, the Supreme Court just recently ruled that even foreign nationals in Gitmo have the right of habeas corpus.
In the UK Habeas Corpus has been put on hold for up to 42 days (unless the despised House of Lords can avert it.[1]
