Reflecting on the Bill of Rights and its Evolution

From Madison's original proposals to modern interpretations, the Bill of Rights continues to shape American freedoms.

James Madison originally proposed nearly 20 amendments for the Bill of Rights, not the 10 that were ratified. Significant deletions included a two-part Preamble incorporating part of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, and the application of at least three liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to all states.
Madison also proposed clear distinctions between the roles of each branch of government, and a different version of what became the Second Amendment. He wanted the entire Bill of Rights interwoven within the Constitution, not appended at the end.
The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, following vigorous national debate. The first 10 amendments form the foundation of cherished American freedoms, many of them the first of their kind enumerated in world history.
President Biden issued a proclamation on Bill of Rights Day, 2023, highlighting the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the ongoing need for vigilance to protect these rights. He also outlined his administration's efforts to protect women's reproductive rights, voting rights, and the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.
On Bill of Rights Day, it's also important to reflect on the Preamble to the United States Constitution. The Preamble, stating 'We the People of the United States,' is seen as the philosophical foundation of the Constitution, and the source of the people's right to govern themselves.