The US Bill of Rights

Why was the Bill of Rights written?

When the states were asked to ratify the US Constitution, several of the state governing bodies agreed only on the condition that a Bill of Rights would be added to the document.

James Madison drafted twelve amendments, ten of which were adopted.

The resulting 413 words that make up these first ten amendments of the Constitution spell out greater individual liberties for its citizens, while limiting the power of the government.

Rights and privileges included in the amendments include freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly; they guarantee prisoner's rights, and protect against governmental search and seizure.

On this date in 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

On December 15, 1791, Virginia ratified the document — the eleventh state to do so — officially making it a part of the Constitution.


Quote: "Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn't even get out of committee." — F. Lee Bailey


Richard

The Rest Of The Story.

MULTIZ321 said:

James Madison drafted twelve amendments, ten of which were adopted.

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What did Madison's 2 unadopted amendments say ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

AwayWeGo said:

What did Madison's 2 unadopted amendments say ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

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According to Wikipedia:

"...Two additional articles were proposed to the States; only the final ten articles were ratified quickly and correspond to the First through Tenth Amendments to the Constitution. The first Article, dealing with the number and apportionment of U.S. Representatives, never became part of the Constitution. The second Article, limiting the ability of Congress to increase the salaries of its members, was ratified two centuries later as the 27th Amendment. Though they are incorporated into the document known as the "Bill of Rights", neither article establishes a right as that term is used today. For that reason, and also because the term had been applied to the first ten amendments long before the 27th Amendment was ratified, the term "Bill of Rights" in modern U.S. usage means only the ten amendments ratified in 1791."