Category — Bill of Rights

James Madison wrote the following letter in the interval between Constitutional Convention and its ratification by the States. It's interesting for a number of reasons. Historically, it provides insight into Madison's perspective on The Bill of Rights, why it was not included in the Constitution to start with, and his motivation for championing it after the Convention. By the time the Constitution was ratified, and the first Congress was in session, much of the political impetus behind it had dissipated. Madison persisted and mostly thanks to his efforts, the Amendments became part of the Constitution.   Read the rest of this entry »

On this day in 1792, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson made an inconspicuous announcement concerning a crucial part of the Constitution, The Bill of Rights.   Read the rest of this entry »

The Declaration of Independence says there are self-evident truths which provide the foundation for American government and society. The American experiment in self-government is predicated on them. However, public understanding of those truths is being lost; they are no longer self-evident to many Americans. They are fundamental principles on which America stands. This appendix “unpacks” the meaning of the term “self-evident truths.” It identifies ten principles or truths which are essential to understanding, defending and preserving the theory and practice of the American way of life.   Read the rest of this entry »

This puzzle came about in the course of researching the concept of natural rights, e.g. those inherent to human beings. A lot of what Madison put into the original version of the preamble echoed what was in the Declaration of independence, but those in Congress at the time, didn't like such an explicit statement about how people were entitled to overthrow an abusive government. After all, they were now the government. Still, the preamble they came up with says a lot about their views on government and its role.   Read the rest of this entry »

With the hindsight of over two hundred years, we may safely say that the concerns of those advocating a Bill of Rights were justified, regardless of the philosophical premise. Our country would be a very different place without the guarantees they offer.   Read the rest of this entry »

Our forefathers bequeathed to us more than a republic. They willed to us an enduring constitution that incorporates more thought and brainpower than any document ever written by man. After fifty-five convention delegates worked ceaselessly for four months, three million people argued about it for up to two years, then it was ratified by conventions of the people, and after it was put in force, Congress immediately acceded to popular demand by proposing ten amendments that restricted the government from abridging the rights of the governed.   Read the rest of this entry »

An incredibly prescient letter from Madison to Jefferson, in which Madison offers his observations on the dangers of a tyrannical majority in a democratic system. Madison explains his views on the proposed Bill of Rights and one of the reasons for his reticence was simply because he didn't care for all those who supported it! "At the same time I have never thought the omission [of a Bill of Rights] a material defect, nor been anxious to supply it even by subsequent amendment, for any other reason than that it is anxiously desired by others."   Read the rest of this entry »

“Let it be known that British liberties are not the grants of princes and parliaments.” John Adams

Bills of rights were not new at the time of the Founding.  The 1215 Magna Carta forced King John to respect specified rights, …

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The country as we know it is in jeopardy. All week we've looked at the system of government bequeathed to us by the founders and how it was supposed to work. Unfortunately, we cannot close our celebration of Constitution Day with an upbeat analysis of where things stand.   Read the rest of this entry »

Jennifer von Tobel submitted our featured Constitution Day post! Please let her know what you think.   Read the rest of this entry »