What is the primary purpose of a bill of rights?

The primary purpose of a bill of rights is to enumerate individual liberties. A bill of rights serves as a formal acknowledgment of the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to individuals, protecting them from potential government overreach and ensuring that certain fundamental rights are preserved.

This document typically outlines various civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, among others. By explicitly listing these rights, a bill of rights provides reassurance to citizens that their basic freedoms are recognized and cannot easily be violated by the government.

Other options focus on different aspects of governance. Establishing government authority pertains more to the framework of government itself and the powers it holds, while regulating state laws involves managing how laws are created and enforced without specifically outlining individual rights. Creating a system of checks and balances refers to the mechanisms within government structures that prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful, which does not directly relate to the protection of individual liberties. Thus, the enumeration of individual liberties remains the central focus of a bill of rights.