The Bill of Rights is the first ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

The Bill of Rights also sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the federal government to the people or to the states. And it specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

In Michigan, as in all states, the Bill of Rights provides the foundational civil liberties and rights that protect individuals from government overreach. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to due process of law. The Tenth Amendment, in particular, reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people, which forms the basis for state sovereignty. Michigan's state constitution and laws must comply with the protections afforded by the Bill of Rights, and the state cannot pass or enforce laws that infringe upon these federally guaranteed rights. Additionally, the Ninth Amendment's provision that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage others retained by the people serves as a reminder that citizens hold more rights than those explicitly listed in the Constitution. When conflicts arise regarding these rights, courts in Michigan will interpret them in light of decisions by the United States Supreme Court, which has the final say on their application and scope.