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 guarantee individual freedoms and rights to citizens, as well as to limit the power of the federal government. They include fundamental protections such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, among others.

These amendments were introduced in response to the calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties and became a crucial aspect of American constitutional law. The Bill of Rights serves as a cornerstone in the protection of civil rights and liberties in the United States, reflecting the nation's commitment to ensuring that personal freedoms are safeguarded against government infringement.

In contrast, the other options refer to different components of the U.S. legal system. A law passed by Congress does not encapsulate the concept of the Bill of Rights, as these amendments were specifically crafted to amend the Constitution. The preamble of the Constitution serves as an introduction that outlines the purposes and guiding principles of the document but does not enumerate specific rights. A Supreme Court decision, while it can interpret the Bill of Rights, is not the Bill of Rights itself, but rather a judicial application or interpretation of it. Thus, the definition of the Bill of Rights aligns