1. Bill of Rights
Chapter 6
Section 1

2. Key Terms
Bill of Rights
Amendment process
Convention

3. Amendment Process – the way changes are added to the Constitution
Bill of Rights – A list of citizens rights become part of the constitution.
Amendment Process – the way changes are added to the Constitution
Has to be approved at the national and state level

4. Federalists promise to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution (1791)
Congress approved and the states ratified the Amendments.
Known as the Bill of Rights
Spelled out individual freedoms
Protections from government abuse

5. 2 ways to propose an Amendment
1. Congress proposes the Amendment and it has to be approved by 2/3’s vote in House and Senate.
Congress proposed 27 amendments this way
2. National convention, or assembly conventions
Must be called by 2/3’s of states legislatures
Never used

6. 2 ways to ratify 1. Approval of ¾ of the states legislatures
2. approval by special convention in ¾ of the states
Congress chooses the method

7. Analyze graph p. 161

8. The Debate in Congress The amendment process began in Congress
James Madison declared that many Americans believed the Constitution did not adequately protect their rights
Madison urged Congress to pass a Bill of Rights

10. Preparing Bill of Rights
Statements include the magna Cart, the English Bill of Rights, colonial charters, and state Constitutions
Majority of Congress Wanted the Bill of Rights at the end to give same importance as original Constitution

11. Proposal and the Ratification
Wrote 12 amendments including 10 that protected citizens rights
Only 2 failed
One was to enlarge the House
Second to limit Congressionsal