How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights consists of ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791, and they enumerate fundamental rights and protections for individuals, ensuring limits on government power. The first ten amendments focus primarily on civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to bear arms, and rights concerning criminal prosecutions, among others. This foundational document serves as a critical reference point in American law and governance, as it explicitly outlines the rights of the individual against governmental powers.