Does the Bill of Rights apply to private citizens and government?

• A. It applies only to private citizens
• B. It applies to both private citizens and government equally
• C. It applies only to government agencies
• D. No, it limits government actions, not private citizens

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the Bill of Rights constrains government power, not private conduct. It was designed to prevent federal officials from infringing on fundamental liberties, and, through the Fourteenth Amendment’s incorporation, many of those protections also limit state governments. Private citizens and private entities aren’t generally bound by these constitutional rules in their everyday private actions; they are governed by other laws, such as statutes, contracts, and civil rights protections. There are situations where private actors can be treated as government actors—for example, when they perform a public function or are closely tied to government action—so rights can apply in those contexts, but the enduring purpose is to shield individuals from governmental intrusion, not to regulate private behavior outright. That’s why this statement best captures the fundamental point.