When the Constitution was adopted the state representatives wanted a promise that there would be a Bill of Rights “to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers” ( meaning the federal government). Beginning on March 4, 1789 and held at the city of New York, the Senate and House of Representatives began drafting Amendments to the Constitution. James Madison was instrumental in this process. On September 25, 1789, twelve proposed Amendments were transmitted to the states for approval. Except for the first two, these amendments were ratified by the states and became law on December 15, 1791. The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States have become known as the Bill of Rights. The reproduction is a facsimile of the Congressional resolution of September 25, 1789 that proposed twelve articles of amendments to the Constitution.
