The Bill of Rights deals primarily with what?

Answer 1

The Bill Of Rights or the first ten amendments to The Constitution of the United States very explicitly clarifies the "unalienable rights" inferred by the Declaration of Independence and vaguely laid out or not mentioned in the original Constitution.

1. Freedom of Religion, speech, peaceful assembly and petition for redress of grievances.
2. Bearing of Arms
3. Protection from having your home "occupied" during peace time by the government to house soldiers against your will.
4. Protection from illegal search and seizure, and requirements for obtaining a search warrant.
5. Right against self incrimination
6. Right to speedy trial, discovery, subpoena, and counsel.
7. Trial by Jury
8. Protection from excessive bail
9. The open end amendment stating that the rights listed do not eliminate other rights of the people as well.
10. Any powers not given to the federal government or states in the Constitution automatically are granted to the states.
Ratified December 15, 1791

While reading the amendments, you'll note the focus on restraining the federal government but there are no specific restrictions on the states. This has been attributed to having just fought a war of independence against a distant, undemocratic and oppressive government, and many Americans still feared central authority and linked liberty with local direction.*



Check out www.constitutioncenter.org

Answer 2

Limitations on government action... Specifically, that there are certain things that the government is not allowed to do.

"Congress shall make no law...." etc.