Final answer:
The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties and has been selectively incorporated by the Supreme Court to apply to state laws. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments influence constitutional interpretation and define state powers. Recent events have highlighted ongoing debates over the extent of these rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Bill of Rights and Its Application
The Bill of Rights is fundamental in protecting the liberties of individuals within the United States. The Supreme Court has been instrumental in ensuring that these rights are upheld not only at the federal level but also within the states through a process known as selective incorporation. This means that even if state constitutions or laws do not fully protect these liberties, the Supreme Court has intervened to ensure that the principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights are applied to state actions.
Over the years, the interpretation of the Bill of Rights has evolved, and though the first eight amendments do not explicitly speak about traditional common law, they do embody the fundamental rights and freedoms that the framers of the Constitution considered essential. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are particularly notable because they influence our interpretation of the Constitution and delineate the residual powers of the state governments.
In recent times, issues such as freedom of assembly have gained national attention, with events like the Black Lives Matter protests highlighting the ongoing debate over the scope and limits of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. In similar circumstances, the Supreme Court assesses whether state laws infringe upon these rights.