What are constitutional rights?

Constitutional rights refer to the fundamental legal rights that are guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution of the United States. These rights are designed to protect individuals from government overreach and ensure that basic freedoms are upheld across the nation. They include rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to due process, and the right to equal protection under the law, among others.

This answer emphasizes the universal nature of these rights as opposed to conditions imposed by local laws or state regulations. Rights dependent on state laws, granted through local legislation, or restricted to elected officials do not encompass the constitutional rights that are intrinsic to every citizen simply by their citizenship and the Constitution's authority.