James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to Congress in 1789. | Adobe Stock
James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to Congress in 1789. | Adobe Stock
Illinois state Sen. John Curran made it a point of celebrating Dec. 15 for its national significance.
“December 15 is the national celebration of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, which spell out our rights as Americans,” Curran recently posted on Facebook. “The Bill of Rights guarantees civil rights and liberties such as freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the federal government to the people or the states.”
James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to Congress in 1789, according to the National Archives, with the House moving to approve 17 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Over time, the Senate whittled the number down to 12 amendments, which President Washington then sent out to the states. Three-fourths of the states ratified 10 of those amendments, which we now know as the “Bill of Rights.”
Illinois state Sen. John Curran
| senatorcurran.com/
The amendments Madison proposed were designed to win support in both houses of Congress and the states, concentrating on rights-related amendments and ignoring suggestions that would have structurally changed the government.
According to the National Archives, many Americans opposed the new government, with Madison and other initially arguing that a bill of rights wasn't necessary because “the government can only exert the powers specified by the Constitution.”
Over time, Madison went from being one of the most vocal opponents of the Bill of Rights to the point that he “hounded his colleagues relentlessly” to secure its passage.
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