Citizen Advocates for Constitutional Principles


Constitutional Gems - # 751 - 12-17-2007


The other proposed amendments.

Saturday, December 15, 2007, was officially "Bill of Rights' Day."

During the ratification process many insisted that there be a declaration of rights as part of the Constitution. During the first Congress 12 amendments were proposed to the states. Of these 12 the first two were not ratified in time to become part of the Bill of Rights. Here is the wording of these first two proposed amendments that failed to get ratification.

Article the first [Not Ratified]
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, 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 there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article the second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

As you see, the second of the two did get ratification over two hundred years latter.

Why do you think the first Congress would propose the amendment to restrict increases in compensation to members of Congress?

(Contributed by George Sweeney)

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