The Amendments

In the summer of 1787 42 delegates from 12 states created the U.S. Constitution. At the end of the task, in mid-September, the delegates had a final robust debate over adding a group of laws limiting government power over individual people. The group of laws became known as a bill of rights. The debate ended with a rousing speech from the respected Ben Franklin and 39 delegates voted to adopt the new Constitution, without a bill of rights. Led by George Mason of Virginia three delegates voted “No.” They held out for a bill of rights.

The proposed Constitution was sent to the 13 states for ratification. Nine states needed to vote “Yes” for ratification. The delegates favoring the Constitution without a bill of rights were called Federalists and the delegates who wanted to include a bill of rights were the Anti-federalists. The leading Anti-federalist was George Mason; he had authored the Virginia State Bill of Rights. It soon became apparent that nine small states would vote to ratify without the two largest states of New York and Virginia. A Constitutional crisis loomed. A compromise was reached. The Federalists pledged to support the House of Representatives taking up legislation to amend the Constitution with a bill of rights in return for New York and Virginia immediately ratifying the new Constitution. The Constitution was ratified on July 2, 1788.

Led by Congressman George Mason, the House passed 12 proposed amendments in 1789 and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten became amendments known as the Bill of Rights and were ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. Seventeen additional amendments have been added to the Constitution since 1791.

The most interesting amendment is the most recent. The 27^th Amendment was ratified May 5, 1992 – more than 202 years after it was sent to the states for ratification. The Congressional Compensation Act of 1789 mandates that salary increases for senators or representatives cannot take effect until after the next biennial federal elections. This amendment was part of the original 12 proposed amendments sent to the states in 1789.

The most important amendment is the first. It forbids the government from making any laws prohibiting the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petitioning the government for redress of grievances. No other government in the world grants these rights to their citizens.