10 Rights Did Not Make Anything Wrong
BY THE NUMBERS
By The Numbers, a look at what’s in the news . . . by the numbers. These are just numbers, not suggestions that they mean more or less than what they are. We do not suggest that one number is connected to another. These are simply facts with no extraneous details, bias or slanted reporting. To borrow (and perhaps mangle a bit) a quote from legendary fictional detective Joe Friday, it’s just the numbers, ma’am!
Did you know that on this date in 1789 Mr. James Madison, the man who 20 years later would become our fledgling nation’s fourth president, introduced a dozen proposed amendments to our Constitution and that those would eventually turn into what we know as the Bill of Rights? Madison would become known as the father of the Constitution. He, arguably more than any other founding father, led the way to what became the U.S. Constitution. So today, in honor of Mr. Madison, we take a look at the Bill of Rights . . . By The Numbers!
12
As mentioned, Madison proposed 12 amendments but only 10 were ratified by the states. The two that did not make the grade initially? One was a mathematical formula that would have increased the House of Representatives as our country’s population grew (more on this in a moment). The next one would forbid Congress from giving themselves a mid-term pay raise. Madison believed that Congress shouldn’t be able to give itself a raise without input, namely an election where their constituents could vote them out if they didn’t agree. Before you get too excited, Congress added the 27th Amendment that allowed them to do exactly that in 1992.
10
The number of amendments that were ratified initially – and the ones we know as the Bill of Rights. We know (wink, wink) that you remember all 10 from those history lessons in school. But just to refresh, here they are:
First: Five freedoms are protected here – speech, religion, assembly, petition and (our favorite) press!
Second: Protects the right to bear arms
Third: Stops “quartering” soldiers in private homes
Fourth: Doesn’t allow unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth: Rights to a grand jury, due process, stops double jeopardy and gives just compensation for property taken
Sixth: The right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury and the right to legal counsel
Seventh: Gives the right to a jury trial in federal cases worth more than $20
Eighth: No cruel and unusual punishments, including excessive bail or fines
Ninth: Somewhat of a catchall – says that we humans have more rights than listed above
Tenth: Gives the states and people rights the federal government doesn’t have
(And aren’t you proud of us – no editorial comments – other than sharing which one is our favorite. Believe us, it was tempting!)
12-15-1791
These 10 amendments are ratified by three-fourths of the states and officially become the law of the land.