More Bill of Rights

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

The Constitution of the United States was written during the summer of 1787. That September it was sent to the states for ratification. Nine of the thirteen states would have to ratify it for the Constitution to become effective for those ratifying states. The future was not certain at all— a debate began among the states over ratification. Those who argued that the Constitution should be approved were called Federalists; those who argued against it were called Anti-Federalists.

One of the many points of disagreement between these two groups was the Constitution’s lack of a bill of rights. A bill of right would place specific limits on government power.

Federalists argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government.

Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty.

Many of the state conventions ratified the Constitution, but called for amendments specifically protecting individual rights from the federal government. The debate raged for months. During the ratification debate James Madison promised that a bill of rights would be added after ratification. His promise reassured the convention and the Constitution was approved.

Bill Of Rights – Is it Necessary?

A bill of rights is needed in a free society in order to protect the rights of the individual from abuses by the government. Government rarely acts against the interests of the majority, and often the beneficiary of a specific decision is one of the minorities. Yet, the entire society benefits from the protection of minority rights. Oftentimes protecting the minority causes great controversy, but each person benefits ultimately. We are all a part of some minority, whether it is race, religion, economics, political beliefs, or social beliefs. We all need our individual rights protected.

 The Bill of Rights – 1791

(First Ten Amendments)

1.     Congress is forbidden to pass any law setting up a religion or interfering with religious freedom or with free speech or with the right of people to get together peacefully and petition the government to have their grievances looked into.

2.     The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be interfered with.

3.     No solider in time of peace shall be assigned to live in a private home without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war except in a lawful manner.

4.     The people are protected against search and seizure without a warrant.

5.     A grand jury is provided for in serious crimes. Persons are protected from being tried twice for the same offense, or from having to testify in criminal cases against themselves, or from being deprived of life, liberty, or property without lawful means.

6.     A fair and speedy trial for the accused is guaranteed in criminal cases.

7.     A jury trial is provided for in civil suits exceeding $20.

8.     Very high bail, stiff fines, or cruel punishment are forbidden.

9.     Just because certain rights of the people have been stated in the Constitution does not mean that they do not have still others not mentioned there.

10. All powers not given by the Constitution to the U.S. nor forbidden to the states are reserved to the states or to the people.