The Bill of Rights is a set of amendments to the United States Constitution that guarantees civil rights and liberties to individuals and limits the power of the government. It was proposed following the debate over the ratification of the Constitution and written to address the objections raised by Anti-Federalists. The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution and includes specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the governments power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.

The Bill of Rights includes some of the most basic freedoms and rights that we think of today in the United States. These include freedom of speech, religion, and the press; the right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable search and seizure; the right to a speedy and public trial; and protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The Bill of Rights also specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people” .

The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties. It was ratified on December 15, 1791, and is considered one of the most important documents in American history.