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 New Mexico, 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 allows for a degree of state autonomy. New Mexico's state constitution also reinforces these rights and may provide additional protections beyond those in the federal Bill of Rights. For instance, New Mexico has its own constitutional provisions that safeguard the rights of its residents, sometimes providing broader protections than the federal Constitution. It's important to note that while federal law, including the Bill of Rights, supersedes state law, states can grant more rights to their citizens but cannot infringe upon the federal rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. An attorney can provide specific guidance on how these rights apply in various legal contexts within New Mexico.