Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution enumerates specific rights such as freedom of speech and prohibits actions like ex post facto laws, ensuring individual liberties and restrictions on government power through the Bill of Rights and other provisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Constitution of the United States provides several specific rights and prohibitions in its body. The most notable protections are found in the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments. These amendments secure fundamental liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly (First Amendment); the right to keep and bear arms (Second Amendment); and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment).
Article I, Sections 9 and 10, articulates restrictions on federal and state powers, forbidding measures like suspending the writ of habeas corpus, passing a bill of attainder, or enacting ex post facto laws. Additionally, the rights to due process (Fifth Amendment) and a fair and speedy trial (Sixth Amendment), protections against cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment), and recognizing that the people have other rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution (Ninth Amendment) are maintained.