Final answer:
The Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution outlines civil liberties that protect Americans from government overreach, and the Fourteenth Amendment extends these protections at the state level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution lays out Americans' civil liberty protections from the government by stating what the government cannot do to citizens. These ten amendments were ratified in 1791 and outline the basic rights that protect individuals from governmental overreach. Among these rights are the freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly (First Amendment), protection against unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment), and safeguards against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment). Furthermore, with the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, these liberties have been expanded to include protection from state actions, ensuring a broader scope of civil liberties for Americans.