What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?

The main purpose of the Bill of Rights is to limit the powers of the federal government. This is achieved by enumerating specific rights and protections granted to individuals, ensuring that the government cannot infringe upon these fundamental freedoms. The first ten amendments to the Constitution were added as a response to concerns that the new federal government might overreach its authority and violate the individual liberties of citizens.

The Bill of Rights serves to protect various civil liberties, including freedoms of speech, religion, and the press, as well as rights related to due process, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. By explicitly listing these rights, the Bill of Rights aims to establish clear constraints on government power, ensuring that citizens have recognized protections against potential governmental abuse.

In contrast, while outlining the structure of government, defining citizens' responsibilities, or expanding voting rights are important aspects of constitutional law and governance, they do not capture the primary intent of the Bill of Rights. Instead, the focus is squarely on limiting government authority and safeguarding individual rights.