National Archives

Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test National Archives

The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their Government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to individuals - like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States. And it specifies that just because the Constitution doesn't list every right people have, it doesn't mean those rights not mentioned can be violated. In this workbook you'll find primary sources to help you explore some of the core concepts, or protections, found in the Bill of Rights, and how they've been tested throughout American history.