What is the significance of the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is significant primarily because it restricts government power over citizens, ensuring that individual liberties and rights are protected from government infringement. Ratified in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the Constitution, these amendments provide essential protections such as freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to a fair trial, among others. By enumerating these rights, the Bill of Rights serves as a check on governmental authority, establishing a crucial framework for civil liberties within the United States.

This framework not only empowers citizens by safeguarding their rights but also limits the government's ability to overreach into private matters. The emphasis on personal freedoms reinforces the principle of a democratic society where individual rights are paramount.

The other choices, while related to governance and citizen responsibilities, do not accurately reflect the core purpose of the Bill of Rights. Introducing new branches of government pertains to the structure of federal governance rather than individual rights. Dictating taxation laws is a function addressed in different articles and amendments but does not relate to the protection of personal freedoms. Outlining the duties of citizens does not capture the essence of the Bill of Rights, which instead focuses on what the government cannot do in relation to individual liberties.