Which of the following best describes the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is best described as the first ten amendments of the Constitution. This collection of amendments was ratified in 1791 and serves to protect individual liberties and rights from government infringement. The Bill of Rights includes fundamental protections such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, among others.

This framework was established to ensure that citizens' rights were explicitly guaranteed and to address concerns raised by those who feared a strong federal government could lead to the abuse of power. In contrast, other options do not accurately capture the essence of the Bill of Rights. A declaration of independence relates to the assertion of sovereignty, while a list of laws passed by Congress pertains to legislative actions and an international treaty involves agreements between countries—none of which represent the amendments aimed at safeguarding personal freedoms listed in the Constitution.