What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights refers specifically to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were adopted to ensure the protection of individual liberties and rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the rights of criminal defendants and other personal freedoms. The framers of the Constitution recognized that these rights were fundamental to a free society and sought to guarantee them explicitly.

This distinction is crucial because it highlights the importance of these amendments in safeguarding citizens against potential abuses of power by the government. Understanding the Bill of Rights is fundamental to grasping the broader context of American law and the enforcement of civil liberties. In contrast to the other options, which mention duties for government officials, state laws, or international treaties, the Bill of Rights is uniquely centered on the individual rights of citizens and their protections under federal law.