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Happy Bill of Rights Day! his Day In History BILL OF RIGHTS BECOMES LAW December 15, 1791
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=leadstory ^

Posted on 12/15/2005 4:28:46 AM PST by mainepatsfan

This Day In History | General Interest

BILL OF RIGHTS BECOMES LAW: December 15, 1791

Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, become the law of the land.

In September 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The amendments were designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the federal government would be reserved for the states and the people.

Influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the Bill of Rights was also drawn from Virginia's Declaration of Rights, drafted by George Mason in 1776. Mason, a native Virginian, was a lifelong champion of individual liberties, and in 1787 he attended the Constitutional Convention and criticized the final document for lacking constitutional protection of basic political rights. In the ratification struggle that followed, Mason and other critics agreed to support the Constitution in exchange for the assurance that amendments would be passed immediately.

On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 10th of 14 states to approve 10 of the 12 amendments, thus giving the Bill of Rights the two-thirds majority of state ratification necessary to make it legal. Of the two amendments not ratified, the first concerned the population system of representation, while the second prohibited laws varying the payment of congressional members from taking effect until an election intervened. The first of these two amendments was never ratified, while the second was finally ratified more than 200 years later, in 1992.


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1 posted on 12/15/2005 4:28:47 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

This is also "National Lemon Cupcake Day" so, it is probably your right to have a lemon cupcake today.


2 posted on 12/15/2005 4:32:03 AM PST by OldYank1
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To: OldYank1

Can't stand them.


3 posted on 12/15/2005 4:34:00 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: OldYank1

Chief Sitting Bull, the leader of the Sioux indians, was shot dead today also


4 posted on 12/15/2005 4:38:32 AM PST by LittleMoe
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To: mainepatsfan

God bless George Mason.


5 posted on 12/15/2005 4:48:21 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo
I'd love to bring him and Madison back to explain to today's judges what the Constitution really means.
6 posted on 12/15/2005 4:53:57 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

Amendment I

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.

Amendment II

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.

Amendment III

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.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.


7 posted on 12/15/2005 5:01:58 AM PST by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" R. A. Heinlein)
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To: Vaquero

I'm sorry but where's the right to an abortion?


8 posted on 12/15/2005 5:06:18 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

in the "umbra"


9 posted on 12/15/2005 5:08:03 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
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To: mainepatsfan

Too bad they didn't survive. Not to mention the ninnies who think that the BoR actually lists the only rights we have.


10 posted on 12/15/2005 5:10:37 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: Wolfie

Some folks opposed the BoR for that very reason.


11 posted on 12/15/2005 5:16:29 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

Some opposed the Constitution because they saw it leading to a bloated, overarching Federal government. Go figure.


12 posted on 12/15/2005 5:20:55 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: Wolfie
Wolfie wrote:

Too bad they didn't survive. Not to mention the ninnies who think that the BoR actually lists the only rights we have.

Not to mention the ninnies who think that the BoR only applies to the US government, and that State & local governments are free to infringe on any rights we have.

13 posted on 12/15/2005 5:21:48 AM PST by don asmussen
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To: mainepatsfan

What were the two that didn't make the cut?


14 posted on 12/15/2005 5:26:09 AM PST by ExGeeEye (Global warming? Bring It On....)
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To: Wolfie
I've been meaning to read the anti-federalist papers.
15 posted on 12/15/2005 5:28:10 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: ExGeeEye

"Of the two amendments not ratified, the first concerned the population system of representation, while the second prohibited laws varying the payment of congressional members from taking effect until an election intervened. The first of these two amendments was never ratified, while the second was finally ratified more than 200 years later, in 1992."


16 posted on 12/15/2005 5:29:40 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

Thank you :)


17 posted on 12/15/2005 5:36:51 AM PST by ExGeeEye (Global warming? Bring It On....)
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To: mainepatsfan

How many "civil rights" do we now have that make the Bill or Rights null and void???? The evolution of a living document as the liberals call it.


18 posted on 12/15/2005 5:39:48 AM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: mainepatsfan
Here is the 1966 US commemorative stamp


19 posted on 12/15/2005 5:40:47 AM PST by xp38
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To: xp38

5 cents!! Wow.


20 posted on 12/15/2005 5:42:43 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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