What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. This collection of amendments was added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties and rights against potential government overreach. The Bill of Rights articulates fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, among others. It was ratified in 1791 to ensure that citizens would have specific protections and that the federal government could not infringe upon these rights.

The Declaration of Independence, while a foundational document in American history, is not amendments to the Constitution; rather, it proclaimed the colonies' intention to separate from British rule. Constitutional Amendments could refer to any changes made to the Constitution over time, not just the first ten. The Federalist Papers are a series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain its provisions, but they are not amendments themselves. Thus, the correct term for the first ten amendments is indeed the Bill of Rights, as it specifically addresses the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to the citizens of the United States.