What is the Bill of Rights?

• A. Amendments that list the limits and authority of the federal government
• B. A list of all state laws
• C. A set of basic civil rights only
• D. A collection of executive orders

Answer: (A)

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that establish and protect fundamental liberties by limiting what the federal government can do. It sets out protections for individual rights—such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as rights in criminal prosecutions and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures—so the government cannot overstep its authority. It’s not a record of state laws, it isn’t only about civil rights, and it isn’t a collection of executive orders issued by the President. The essence is that these amendments restrict federal power and safeguard individual freedoms.