The Bill of Rights outlines various American rights, thus stands out to be one of the most

significant parts of the US Constitution. The Bill of Rights ensures that the government protects

the rights of its citizens. According to Greenberg & Page (2018), American citizens enjoy

various basic rights contained in the Bill of Rights, thus the need for citizens to understand their

individual rights as well as the country’s civil liberties. Some of the most significant rights that

are contained in the Bill of Rights include the right to freedom of religion, speech, the right to

bear arms, and the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. However, each state in the

US is governed by its own Constitution as well as various civil liberties that govern them. State

constitutions have significant similarities that protect the rights of its citizens. According to

Elazar (2018), various states have adopted to a constitution that has almost similar rights as well

as rights that offer effective protection such as speech, press, and the assembly rights.

Pennsylvania’s Constitution offers significant protection when it comes to religious freedom,

freedom of speech, and freedom of press.

References

Elazar, D. J. (2018). The Principles and Traditions Underlying State Constitutions. Publius,

12(1), 11–25. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3329670

Greenberg, E. S & Page, B. I. (2018). The Struggle for Democracy, 2018 Elections and Updates

Edition. (12th ed.). Pearson.