What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights encompasses the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which were ratified in 1791. These amendments serve a vital function by explicitly guaranteeing individual rights and protecting citizens from governmental overreach. Among the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights are freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and the press, as well as rights related to legal proceedings, such as due process and protection from double jeopardy.

This set of amendments was introduced to address concerns from various states about the potential for federal authority to infringe on individual liberties, thus promoting a balance between government power and personal rights. By establishing these protections, the Bill of Rights plays a crucial role in American democracy and legal practice.

The other options, while related to governance or historical contexts, do not pertain to the actual definition or purpose of the Bill of Rights. A proposal for a new constitution and a list of state powers do not encompass the individual rights framework provided by the first ten amendments. Similarly, the declaration of war against Britain is a historical action unrelated to these specific rights.