The Bill of Rights consists of the initial ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. These amendments were officially approved on December 15, 1791, and function to ensure fundamental rights and civil freedoms for individuals while constraining the authority of the federal government. The Bill of Rights was proposed to alleviate worries expressed during the debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution, especially by Anti-Federalists who were concerned that a powerful national government could encroach upon personal freedoms.