"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." - Amendment I to the United States Constitution

Why does the First Amendment begin with the words "Congress shall not"?

Question 3 options: Representatives to the US Congress were required to pass civil rights legislation so it was imperative they read the text.

Civil rights were historically infringed upon by a central government.

The body of the Constitution listed what Congress could do so the Bill of Rights had to list what they could not do.

The Bill of Rights protected the people so the focus was clearly not on the federal government.