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

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. This term refers specifically to the amendments that were added to the Constitution in order to ensure certain fundamental rights and freedoms for individuals and to limit the powers of the federal government. Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights includes important protections such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the rights of due process and a fair trial among others.

In contrast, the Preamble serves as an introduction to the Constitution and outlines its purposes, but it does not contain any amendments. The Constitution Overview is not an official term and does not specifically refer to any part of the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were the first governing document of the United States, created prior to the Constitution, and are not related to the amendments made thereafter. This distinction helps clarify that the Bill of Rights is essential for understanding the protections afforded to individual liberties in the United States.