What document protects the rights of individuals from government infringement?

The Bill of Rights specifically protects the rights of individuals from government infringement. It is comprised of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which collectively enumerate specific rights and freedoms that the federal government is prohibited from violating. These rights include essential liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and rights related to criminal prosecutions, such as the right to a fair trial and protection against self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights was introduced in response to concerns from Anti-Federalists about the potential for governmental overreach and the need for explicit safeguards for individual liberties. This focus on protecting citizens' rights is what distinguishes the Bill of Rights from other documents like the Constitution, which outlines the framework of government, or the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the fundamental principles of American democracy and independence but does not specifically list individual protections. The Federalist Papers, while influential in explaining and advocating for the Constitution, do not serve a direct role in enumerating rights like the Bill of Rights does.