What legal document contains the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

The Bill of Rights is the legal document that encompasses the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, explicitly outlining fundamental rights and liberties of individuals, such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. It was introduced to ensure that certain rights would be guaranteed and protected from government infringement, addressing concerns raised during the ratification of the Constitution.

The Constitution itself refers to the original framework of the U.S. government and does not include these specific amendments within its initial text. The Declaration of Independence, while a significant historical document, does not contain amendments and primarily outlines the colonies' reasons for seeking independence from British rule. The Federalist Papers consist of writings that advocate for the ratification of the Constitution, but they do not contain any amendments themselves. Therefore, the Bill of Rights is correctly identified as the document that specifically contains these first ten amendments, establishing essential protections for individuals in a constitutional democracy.