What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution collectively known as?

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. This terminology is significant because these amendments were adopted to ensure the protection of individual liberties against potential government overreach. Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights guarantees essential rights such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the rights of the accused in criminal cases, among others.

The designation of these amendments as the Bill of Rights emphasizes their purpose as essential safeguards for personal freedoms and the rights of citizens, reflecting the Founding Fathers' intent to provide a clear formulation of the rights guaranteed to individuals. This collective term has since become a foundational concept in American law and civic education, formulating a critical part of the conversation around civil liberties in the United States.