Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution safeguards individual rights primarily through the Bill of Rights, the system of checks and balances, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which provides all citizens with equal protection under the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Constitution safeguards individual rights primarily through the Bill of Rights, which are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These outline and protect citizens' rights against government intrusion. For instance, they protect freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial. Notably, the Constitution checks the powers of the government, ensuring it does not abuse its authority, thereby protecting individual rights. Importantly, the Bill of Rights protections are not just limited to citizens but apply to all persons within the United States.
Furthermore, the Constitution contains checks and balances which help to limit the powers of the federal government thereby safeguarding individual rights. The powers and responsibilities of each branch of government - legislative, judicial, and executive - are divided to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. For instance, the legislative branch, Congress, has the power to create laws, but the executive branch, headed by the President, has the ability to veto those laws. This system of checks and balances helps to prevent the government from infringing on the rights of the people.
The Fourteenth Amendment is another critical safeguard, as it extends the protections of the Bill of Rights to actions by the state governments, and provides all citizens with equal protection under the law, regardless of race or color.
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