What are the fundamental legal rights granted to all U.S. citizens by the Constitution?

The fundamental legal rights granted to all U.S. citizens by the Constitution are known as constitutional rights. These rights are enshrined primarily in the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and they serve to protect individual liberties and ensure justice. Examples include the rights to freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as the right to due process and a fair trial.

While the concept of national rights might suggest a broader framework of rights that pertain to citizenship within the nation, it isn’t a term used formally to describe the rights defined in the U.S. legal system. State rights more appropriately relate to powers reserved to the states rather than to fundamental individual liberties. Universal rights refer to human rights that apply to all people regardless of nationality and do not specifically pertain to the U.S. legal framework. Thus, the designation of constitutional rights specifically captures the legal entitlements provided to citizens under U.S. law.