Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was ratified in 1788, with 33 amendments proposed by the US Congress. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form the basis of American law and government. Since then, the Constitution has been amended to address a range of issues, from presidential term limits to the prohibition of intoxicating liquors. The process of amending the Constitution is detailed in Article Five, which outlines a two-step process requiring proper proposal and ratification by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, or a national convention called by Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments to the U.S. Constitution | 27 |
| First 10 Amendments | Ratified on December 15, 1791, also known as the Bill of Rights |
| Number of Amendments proposed in 1789 | 12 |
| Number of Amendments proposed in 1789 and ratified | 10 |
| Number of Amendments proposed in 1789 and not ratified | 2 |
| Number of Amendments with a delay in ratification | 1 (Article 2, ratified 203 years later in 1992 as the 27th Amendment) |
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What You'll Learn
The first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791
The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, were ratified on December 15, 1791, by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The amendments defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, which were sent to the states for approval in August 1789. Ten amendments were approved (or ratified). The 1789 Joint Resolution of Congress proposing the amendments is on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Museum.
The Bill of Rights was created in response to demands for a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens during debates on the adoption of the Constitution. Opponents of the Constitution as drafted charged that it would pave the way for tyranny by the central government, with the fresh memory of British violations of civil rights before and during the Revolution. Several state conventions formally ratified the Constitution with the understanding that amendments would be offered.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution safeguard freedoms like speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, while ensuring protections such as due process and trial by jury. They also address the number of constituents for each Representative and the varying compensation for Senators and Representatives.
The Constitution's Last Amendments: A Historical Perspective
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The 27th Amendment was ratified 203 years after it was proposed
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which comprised the first 10 amendments, ratified in 1791. The 27th Amendment, which was ratified in 1992, holds the record for the longest time taken to be ratified – 203 years after it was first proposed in 1789.
The 27th Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, was proposed by Representative James Madison of Virginia. It states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress can only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives. In other words, members of Congress are not allowed to raise or lower their salaries mid-term. This amendment was intended to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by giving the public the opportunity to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
Despite its common-sense nature, the 27th Amendment's journey to becoming law was highly unconventional. It was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper for a government class arguing for its ratification. Watson then launched a nationwide campaign, spending thousands of dollars of his own money on a letter-writing campaign to state legislators. His efforts gained bipartisan support, and by the end of the 1980s, nearly 20 states had ratified the amendment. On May 7, 1992, Michigan became the 38th state to ratify, and the amendment finally crossed the three-fourths majority required for ratification.
The long delay in ratifying the 27th Amendment led to legal debates about its validity. Some scholars argued that it had expired, while others claimed existing statutes made it unnecessary. However, the Archivist of the United States ultimately concluded that it had met all necessary requirements, and it became part of the Constitution.
Amendments: The Constitution's First Update
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The First Amendment: Fundamental Freedoms
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1791. The First Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, protects fundamental freedoms and is one of the most important amendments.
The First Amendment guarantees several fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government. These freedoms are considered essential for a democratic society and have been the foundation of many landmark Supreme Court cases over the years.
The text of the First Amendment is as follows: "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." This amendment ensures that the government cannot establish an official religion or prevent the free exercise of any religion and protects the rights of individuals to express their beliefs and ideas without fear of government censorship or retaliation.
The First Amendment also safeguards the freedom of the press, ensuring that journalists and media organizations can report and publish information without government interference. This freedom is crucial for holding those in power accountable and ensuring an informed public. Additionally, the right to peaceful assembly protects the ability of citizens to gather and protest peacefully, allowing them to make their voices heard and participate in the democratic process.
Finally, the First Amendment guarantees the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, which means that individuals and groups can address their concerns and seek change from the government. This right ensures that citizens have a direct avenue to influence public policy and hold their elected officials accountable.
The Founding Fathers' First Amendments
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The Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first 10 amendments being ratified in 1791, known as the Bill of Rights.
The Second Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, states: "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This amendment has been the subject of much debate and interpretation over the years, with a particular focus on the right to "keep and bear Arms".
The Second Amendment's reference to the right to keep and bear arms was influenced by English law, which allowed for the possession of arms. The concept of a "well-regulated militia" was also well-established in English and American history, dating back to the late 17th century and the American Revolution. It was included in the Articles of Confederation in 1781 and discussed at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Second Amendment was thus included in the Bill of Rights to provide for the defence of the nation, create a well-trained force to check federal tyranny, and establish constitutional balance by distributing power among the people, states, and the federal government.
For over two centuries, there was a consensus among judges and scholars that the Second Amendment guaranteed only the right of individuals to defend their liberties by participating in a state militia. However, by the late 20th century, a significant minority of judges adopted the "self-defense" interpretation, which was also widely accepted by the American public, especially those opposed to gun control. This interpretation asserts that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess firearms for self-defence, not just within the context of a state militia.
The debate over the Second Amendment continues to be a divisive issue in American society, with some calling for stricter gun control measures and others advocating for the protection of gun ownership rights.
Executive and Legislative Powers: War and Amendments
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The Third Amendment: Quartering Soldiers
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which included the first 10 amendments ratified in 1791. One of these amendments is the Third Amendment, which states: "No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
The Third Amendment is one of the least controversial and least cited sections of the Constitution. It has rarely been litigated and has never been the primary basis of a Supreme Court decision. However, it has been invoked in a few cases to establish an implicit right to privacy. For example, in the Court of Appeals case Engblom v. Carey in 1982, and in the United States v. Valenzuela (1951), where the defendant unsuccessfully requested that a federal rent-control law be struck down because it violated Amendment III.
The Third Amendment was proposed by James Madison in the First United States Congress, along with 19 other amendments based on state bills of rights and English sources such as the Bill of Rights 1689. Madison's proposal included a prohibition against quartering troops in private homes, which became the core of the Third Amendment. Several revisions were proposed, mainly around how to distinguish between peace and war, and whether the executive or legislature should authorise quartering. However, the amendment ultimately passed Congress almost unchanged and by a unanimous vote.
The Third Amendment addressed concerns about the quartering of soldiers, which had been an issue during the colonial period. In 1765, the British Parliament enacted the Quartering Acts, requiring the Thirteen Colonies to provide food and lodging to British troops, even if it meant quartering them in public buildings or private homes. The Third Amendment ensured that soldiers could not be quartered in private residences without the owner's consent, regardless of whether it was a time of peace or war.
The 10th Amendment: A Historic Addition to the Constitution
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The first 10 amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution on September 25, 1789.
The first 10 amendments include the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to keep and bear arms. It also includes the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, and for warrants to only be issued with probable cause.
The 27th Amendment was ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed.
