Bill of Right

Bill of Rights and Amendments

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HIS/301

AUGUST 15, 2013

teacher

Bill of Rights and Amendments

Although the Constitution was written primarily to define and represent the ideals and dreams of men for freedom of life; liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, there were many imperfections because of the compromises required to get the document ratified by the states involved. Amendments to the Constitution were added to correct these deficiencies, including the Bill of Rights and the first 10 amendments. However, the Bill of Rights still did not adequately address the issues of slaves. Amendments 13, 14, and 15 were added in an attempt to fulfill the gaps left by the original 10. These amendments were also a precursor to future amendments addressing civil right issues during the Civil Rights movement.

How and Why Amendments are added to the Constitution

The Constitution was approved in 1788, including Article V stating how amendments would be added. Amendments were needed either as an improvement, a correction, or an addition. There are two ways to pass an amendment although only one has ever been used. The first method takes two-thirds of the house and Senate and three-fourths of the states to have a proposed amendment ratified. The second method, although never used requires a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the House and Senate and approved by three-fourths of the states. The "US Constitution" (n.d.) website states that the president can have no role in amending the formal process of the amendment, nor can he veto the amendment or ratification.

The first amendments to be added to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. They encompass amendments one through 10. Two groups formed to discuss the ideas of a bill of rights. The first group, known as the Federalists did not think a bill of...