United States Bill of Rights 1789 (2021 Edition)

Twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution, introduced in September 1789 by Congress.

House: Committee of the Whole

A House committee that included all members of the House

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Session 4930: 1789-08-13 11:00:00

The Committee receives the Committee of Eleven report

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Report of the Committee of the Whole

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There are 2 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.

[Report of the Committee of the Whole]

In the introductory paragraph before the words, 'We the people,' add, 'Government being intended for the benefit of the people, and the rightful establishment thereof being derived from their authority alone.'

ART. 1, SEC. 2, PAR. 3—Strike out all between the words, 'direct' and 'and until such,' and instead thereof insert, 'After the first enumeration there shall be one representative for every thirty thousand until the number shall amount to one hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress that the number of Representatives shall never be less than one hundred, nor more than two hundred, but each State shall always have at least one Representative.'

Art. 1, Sec. 6—Between the words 'United States,' and 'shall in all case,' strike out 'they,' and insert, 'But no law varying the compensation shall take effect until an election of representatives shall have intervened. The members.'

Art. 1, Sec. 9—Between par. 2 and 3 insert, 'Congress shall make no laws touching religion, or infringing the rights of conscience.'

The freedom of speech, and of the press, and the right of the people peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to apply to the government for redress of grievances, shall not be infringed.

A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, being the best security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms upon paying an equivalent, to be established by law.

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