What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?

The primary purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect individual liberties. Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and serves as a crucial check on governmental power by guaranteeing specific freedoms to individuals. These amendments safeguard fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press, as well as protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to a fair trial, and other personal liberties.

While there are other facets of governance addressed in the Constitution, such as the structure of government and taxation laws, the explicit aim of the Bill of Rights is to ensure that the government does not infringe upon the natural rights of individuals. For example, the First Amendment protects freedom of expression, while the Fourth Amendment guards against arbitrary government actions. Thus, the central role of the Bill of Rights is to enshrine and protect the personal freedoms inherent to individuals within the constitutional framework.