The first ten amendments became part of the original Constitution, as we know it today. It also limited what could be done by the new national government. .
Additional Constitutional amendments were added, but these are not considered part of the Bill of Rights. Although various government officials and political leaders try to change existing amendments or add new ones, this process is very challenging. Careful consideration must be taken before any amendment can be altered. This protects the Bill of Rights and the actual constitution from being changed constantly. The first eight amendments contain rights for every citizen. "The ninth Amendment forbids the government to limit freedoms and rights that are not listed in the Constitution." "The tenth Amendment limits the powers of the federal government to those that are granted to it in the Constitution" (Dumbauld 117). These are rights that we as Americans are born with. They are also rights that no one can take away from us. Some of these rights support democracy, such as freedom of speech and of press. Others, such as the right to trial by jury, are essential to justice. Although the government for the most part "plays fair," there are always those instances when injustices may occur, either by accident or by choice. It may be a police officer wrongfully searching a car, or an unexpected visit from the police wanting to search your house on grounds that you are suspected of carrying contraband. The Fourth Amendment protects us of that. It gives us security in ourselves, in our private places and in our homes. Under the eighth amendment, we cannot be given excessive bail. Many judges now have to follow a list, defending the amount of bail for various crimes. .
The fourth amendment and the eighth amendments are two amendments that I believe to be very important. The eighth amendment states, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines impose, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.