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N0KFQ > TODAY 15.12.14 17:30l 64 Lines 2322 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 42184_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Dec 15
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<I3XTY<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 141215/1630Z 42184@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.62
Dec 15, 1791:
The Bill of Rights becomes law
On this day in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify
the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the
Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun
by the Declaration of Independence. Before the Massachusetts
ratifying convention would accept the Constitution, which they
finally did in February 1788, the document's Federalist
supporters had to promise to create a Bill of Rights to be
amended to the Constitution immediately upon the creation of a
new government under the document.
The Anti-Federalist critics of the document, who were afraid that
a too-strong federal government would become just another sort of
the monarchical regime from which they had recently been freed,
believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal
government by outlining its rights but failing to delineate the
rights of the individuals living under it. The promise of a Bill
of Rights to do just that helped to assuage the Anti-Federalists'
concerns.
The newly elected Congress drafted the Bill of Rights on December
25, 1789. Virginia's ratification on this day in 1791 created the
three-fourths majority necessary for the ten amendments to become
law. Drafted by James Madison and loosely based on Virginia's
Declaration of Rights, the first ten amendments give the
following rights to all United States citizens:
1.Freedom of religion, speech and assembly
2.Right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of a well-regulated
militia
3.No forcible quartering of soldiers during peacetime
4.Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
5.Right to a grand jury for capital crimes and due process.
Protection from double jeopardy, self-incrimination and public
confiscation of private property without just compensation.
6.Right to speedy and public trial by jury and a competent
defense
7.Right to trial by jury for monetary cases above $20
8.Protection against excessive bail or fines and cruel and
unusual punishments
9.Rights not enumerated are retained by the people
10.Rights not given to the federal government or prohibited the
state governments by the Constitution, are reserved to the
States... or to the people
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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