What does the Bill of Rights consist of?

The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were ratified in 1791 and were created to protect individual liberties and rights against potential governmental overreach. They include fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and rights related to criminal prosecutions, among others.

This key legal document was introduced to ensure that certain basic freedoms were explicitly stated and recognized, highlighting the importance of individual rights within the framework of the new government established by the Constitution. The inclusion of the Bill of Rights was a significant factor in the ratification debates, addressing the concerns of Anti-Federalists about the potential for tyranny in a strong national government.