What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. This crucial set of amendments was ratified in 1791 to guarantee individual freedoms and rights to American citizens. The Bill of Rights addresses key issues such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, among others. Its primary purpose is to protect the rights of individuals from government overreach and to ensure a system of checks and balances.

The Constitution itself refers to the foundational framework of the U.S. government, which includes more than just the first ten amendments. The Articles of Confederation were an earlier document that governed the United States before the current Constitution was adopted and do not include any amendments. Lastly, the Declaration of Independence is a separate historical document that proclaimed the American colonies' independence from Great Britain and is not related to the amendments of the Constitution. Thus, the designation of the first ten amendments as the Bill of Rights is both accurate and significant in understanding the structure of American government and the protection of individual liberties.