Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for June 8, 2017
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
June 8, 2017: Two hundred twenty-eight years ago today, James Madison rose from his seat in Congress to propose a series of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Twelve of his proposed amendments were approved by Congress, and 10 were quickly ratified by the states. Those 10 became known as the Bill of Rights.[1]
The amendments that became known as the Bill of Rights were designed to protect the freedoms of everyday Americans. They prevented Congress from legally infringing on the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble and petition the government, and more. The amendments guaranteed citizens the right to carry guns and be tried by a jury of their peers. They prevented the government from searching anyone’s home or property without a warrant and reserved certain powers to state governments.
In other words, the Bill of Rights was an attempt to create a legal framework guaranteeing the founding ideals of our nation and ensuring that every American could enjoy the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Constitution was ratified in September 1787, the first elections under it were held in 1788, and the first Congress assembled in early 1789. On June 8 of that year, Madison stated that it would be a mistake to let the first congressional session pass without proposing a series of amendments.
Madison noted that while the Constitution had been ratified, there were “a great number of our constituents who are dissatisfied with it.” In fact, many states had ratified the Constitution only because of a promise to immediately amend it. There were widespread concerns that the document gave too much power to the federal government and contained too few protections for everyday Americans.
Those of us living in the 21st century can be thankful for the efforts of James Madison that began 228 years ago today. Without the Bill of Rights, it is not clear the nation would have survived to this point, and it is almost certain that everyday Americans would have far less freedom than we currently enjoy.
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