Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was put into operation on March 4, 1789. The first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The first three amendments of the Constitution include the right to freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. They also cover the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. The second amendment prohibits the establishment of a national religion. The third amendment protects citizens from being forced to quarter soldiers in their homes during peacetime.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments Proposed by the First Congress of the United States | 12 |
| Date of Proposal | September 25, 1789 |
| Number of Amendments Ratified | 10 |
| Date of Ratification | December 15, 1791 |
| Known Collectively As | The Bill of Rights |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The First Congress proposed 12 amendments in 1789
The First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution on September 25, 1789. This proposal was known as the Bill of Rights, and it was designed to address concerns raised by several states that wished to prevent misconstruction or abuse of the Constitution's powers. James Madison, initially an opponent of the Bill of Rights, introduced a list of amendments to the Constitution on June 8, 1789, and worked diligently to secure its passage.
Madison's original proposal included 20 amendments with a separate preamble to the Bill of Rights. The House of Representatives debated and modified Madison's proposal, approving a version with 17 amendments. The proposed Bill of Rights then went to the Senate, where it underwent further revisions, resulting in a document with 12 amendments. The Senate-proposed version of the Bill of Rights was approved by Congress on September 25, 1789, and copies of the 12 amendments were sent to the states for ratification.
Ten of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791, and they constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, or the U.S. Bill of Rights. The ratified amendments include Articles 3–12, with Article 1 never being ratified and Article 2 being ratified 203 years later in 1992 as the 27th Amendment.
The first three amendments of the Constitution, which are part of the Bill of Rights, include:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 High Bar for Constitutional Change
You may want to see also
Ten of the 12 were ratified in 1791
The first three amendments of the United States Constitution are part of the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments. On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed twelve amendments to the Constitution. Of these, ten were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the Bill of Rights. These first ten amendments were ratified simultaneously and include the following:
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
- Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.
- The right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances shall not be infringed upon by Congress.
The Bill of Rights is a significant document that outlines essential freedoms and rights for American citizens. It sets limitations on the power of the federal government, specifically Congress, to ensure the protection of individual liberties. The first three amendments, in particular, focus on safeguarding religious liberty, freedom of speech and the press, and the right to assemble and petition the government.
The remaining two of the twelve amendments proposed in 1789 had different fates. Article 2 was ratified in 1992 as the 27th Amendment, 203 years after it was first proposed. Article 1, however, was never ratified and did not become part of the Constitution.
Constitutional Amendments: Creating Legal Change
You may want to see also
The first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights
The first three amendments of the Constitution are the first part of what is known as the Bill of Rights. On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. Ten of these were ratified on December 15, 1791, and became the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, or the U.S. Bill of Rights.
The first three amendments are as follows:
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
- Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.
- Congress shall make no law infringing on the right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
These amendments are a critical part of the Bill of Rights, which is a cornerstone of American democracy and a safeguard for individual liberties. They were designed to protect the natural rights of citizens and limit the power of the federal government, ensuring that basic freedoms were guaranteed.
The Bill of Rights was influenced by the Enlightenment philosophy of the time, which emphasised natural rights and limited government. The first three amendments, in particular, were formulated to protect citizens' ability to express themselves freely, practise their chosen religion, and assemble and petition the government—all essential elements of a democratic society.
Constitutional Amendment: The Right to Vote
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are Reconstruction Amendments
The first three amendments to the US Constitution are part of the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments. They were proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, on the other hand, are collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments. They were ratified between 1865 and 1870, in the aftermath of the Civil War, and were essential to reuniting the country. These amendments ended slavery in the United States, ensured birthright citizenship, guaranteed due process, and provided "equal protection of the laws" under federal and state governments. They also expanded voting rights by prohibiting discrimination based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
The Reconstruction Amendments provided the legal basis for enforcing and implementing Reconstruction policies and passing federal legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875, and the Enforcement Acts of 1870-71. These laws aimed to end slavery, guarantee full citizenship, civil rights, and voting rights for freed African Americans, and address the growing violence and intimidation faced by this group in the South.
The 14th Amendment was particularly significant in eliminating the three-fifths rule and punishing any state that did not permit male citizens over 21 years old to vote. It also barred those who "have engaged in insurrection or rebellion" or "given aid or comfort to the enemies" of the United States from holding public office unless Congress voted to remove this prohibition.
Amending the Constitution: A Complex Process
You may want to see also
27 amendments have been ratified in total
The United States Constitution is a remarkable and evolving document that has undergone numerous amendments to adapt to the changing needs of the nation. Since its inception on March 4, 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend and strengthen this foundational text. These proposals attest to the dynamic nature of American democracy and the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union.
While the volume of proposals is impressive, the process of amending the Constitution is deliberately complex and rigorous. For an amendment to become part of this sacred document, it must clear several hurdles. It requires ratification by three-fourths of the states, or 38 states, achieved through either the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or state ratifying conventions. This meticulous process ensures that any changes to the Constitution reflect the will of the vast majority of the country.
Despite the high bar set for ratification, 27 amendments have successfully been woven into the fabric of the Constitution. The first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously on December 15, 1791, and stand as a testament to the nation's commitment to protecting personal and individual rights. These amendments safeguard freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition, forming the bedrock of American liberties.
Among the 27 amendments, several stand out for their transformative impact on the nation. The 13th Amendment, for instance, abolished slavery, taking a bold step towards a more just and equitable society. The 19th Amendment guaranteed women's suffrage, recognizing the fundamental role of women in shaping the nation's future. The 22nd Amendment introduced presidential term limits, ensuring a healthy rotation of leadership. Each of these amendments reflects the nation's evolving understanding of liberty and democracy.
The process of amending the Constitution is a testament to the founders' foresight in creating a flexible framework that could adapt to the nation's changing needs. While the high bar for ratification ensures that amendments are reserved for significant and widely supported changes, the very act of proposing amendments is a powerful expression of the people's voice. Each proposal, whether ratified or not, contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the values and principles that define the United States of America.
The 12th Amendment: Written and Ratified in 1700s
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first 3 amendments of the US Constitution are the first 3 of the 10 amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. They were proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791.
The first amendment states that:
> 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.
The second amendment, ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed, states that:
> 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.
The third amendment states that:
> 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.
For a proposal to become an amendment to the US Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states since 1959). This can be done through the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or state ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states.
Since the US Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend it. Out of these, 33 amendments have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these proposals have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are now part of the Constitution.
