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Introductory Notes
The Bill of Rights was written in the summer of 1789 by the newly elected Congress, two years after the Constitution itself had been written. By the summer of 1789, all states had ratified the Constitution, aside from Rhode Island and North Carolina, though several state ratifying conventions had included in their forms of ratification a list of concerns and proposed amendments. It was the hope of several members of Congress that writing a Bill of Rights would induce these final two states to ratify the Constitution and inspire among the states that had already ratified a greater sense of confidence in the document. On 28 September 1789, following the report of the Committee for Enrolled Bills, the amendments agreed by both houses of Congress were referred to the individual state legislatures. Of the twelve amendments referred, ten were ratified by the states and comprise the Bill of Rights.
This collection is a detailed model of the debates that took place in Congress over the wording of the particular provisions. There are inevitable lacunas. The Journals of the House of Representatives are detailed, and extensive (even near-verbatim) accounts of what took place on the floor of the House and in its Committee of the Whole exist and have been used in the construction of this publication. Various contemporary accounts, such as daily reports by various newspapers and Thomas Lloyd’s stenographic record (published as the Congressional Register), and the Annals of Congress inform much of the debate in the House of Representatives. As is often the case, the records of smaller committees do not survive, and perhaps were never even kept in so formal a manner. For these subcommittees, we have reconstructed the timeline as much as the record allows, using the journals, newspapers, and extant documents. It is of particular regret that the work of the final Conference Committee that met to resolve the differences between the versions of the Bill of Rights proposed by the Senate and the House remains opaque.
Just as frustratingly, the Journal of the Senate for this period was published in a summary form that records the results of deliberations, but frequently compresses points of detail. It is clear from the manuscript, which is written up in a formal, careful hand, as well as from the way it was worded, that it was a distillation of the journal that must have been kept to manage the day-to-day business of the Senate. It obscures not only what was said in debate, but even who proposed particular amendments to the text and how many revisions were considered for particular paragraphs. The Annals of Congress, when compared with the Journal, offers a slightly more robust account of what took place in the Senate, but it is similarly sparse.
This collection nevertheless sheds new light on the way that the language of the Bill of Rights evolved, and enables a reader to understand the context within which particular decisions were made. The Bill of Rights was debated alongside other legislation in the first Congress. In fact, there was considerable debate within the House of Representatives as to whether the first session of the first Congress was an appropriate time to consider amendments to the Constitution, and several representatives argued that the United States government was yet unformed and its Constitution had not yet stood the test of time. Eventually, they decided to proceed with the amendments, but as the consideration of amendments to the Constitution was intermixed with the consideration of other legislation, choices had to be made about what to include in this collection. We have included the days on which the members of Congress were known to have taken their seats, for example, to show the considerable time that it took for Congress to assemble, and we have also included some of the discussions about how the business of Congress should be conducted. We have also included any forms of wording suggested by a member of Congress as proposals for alternative words, even if that proposal was never seconded and so never achieved the status of a formally proposed form of wording. In those instances, the proposed amendment is shown as being immediately dropped from discussion for want of support. Similarly, in representing motions that altered the text of a document in consideration, we have indicated as the event ‘Source Material’ the source from which the text of the document derives. If the description text comes from a different source than the actual document text, we have indicated as much in a parenthetical citation. In events that do not propose text (such as procedural events, debate events, or decision events), the ‘Source Material’ listed is the source from which the description text derives. Lastly, the first session of the first Congress established a precedent for the ways in which documents would move between the House of Representatives and the Senate, a procedure that is captured in an event’s ‘Related Events’ tab.
A set of editors' commentary notes is provided that explains some particular difficulties encountered with the records pertaining to this collection, and we have included links to the source material relating to the Bill of Rights held at other institutions.
NPSC, LAD
July 2019.
Notes on the 2021 Edition
The major addition to the 2021 Edition is the addition of a new way to visualize the way that the list of proposed amendments was debated in the House and the Senate. One of the difficulties is that the House and Senate did not debate amendments to the Constitution directly, but rather legislation that, if adopted, would lead to revisions of the Constitution. Indeed, Madison's original proposal suggested significant revision of the text of the constitution itself, rather than the addition of amendments to the end of the document.
Presentationally, this posed a dilemma. The texts being debated by members of Congress needed to be represented by the model, but even understanding how the resolutions being debated by Congress were evolving with greater clarity did not entirely solve the problem of interpretation for modern readers, who need to be able to see both the form of the resolutions as they existed in Congress and the proposed effect of these resolutions on the text of the Constitution itself.
We have solved this problem by introducing a new feature to our timeline presentations. The various documents and amendments are shown as before, but where these texts would affect other documents, the proposed effect of these resolutions is now accessible by clicking the icons shown above each document event.
For example, at this moment on the 8th June 1789, it is possible to view both the text of the resolution introduced by Madison and, by clicking on the icon directly above it, to view the proposed changes to the text of the Constitution itself.
This representation has been used throughout the debates in the House and the Senate, where relevant, and greatly assists with the interpretation of the debates. In all cases, the 'substantive' proposal that was actually debated is the lowest icon, and any secondary changes that would result to other documents are represented above.
Alongside this major change, the opportunity has been taken to thoroughly review the presentation of the record throughout. Editorial work on this new presentation was largely undertaken by Grace Penn and Elizabeth Green at Pembroke College, building on the work undertaken for the 2019 edition.
NPSC
November 2021.
Date | Time | Committee | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1789-03-04 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | First day of the Bill of Rights proceedings; congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-04 | 12:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-05 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-14 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-17 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-18 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-19 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-21 | 12:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-23 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-25 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-28 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-03-30 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-01 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House elects a speaker and a clerk |
1789-04-02 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-02 | 11:00:00 | House: Rules Committee | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-03 | 12:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-04 | 12:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-06 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-06 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-07 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Rules Committee is appointed |
1789-04-07 | 11:00:00 | Senate: Rules Committee | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-07 | 12:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House decides on rules |
1789-04-07 | 12:00:00 | House: Rules Committee | The Rules Committee report is referred to the House |
1789-04-07 | 12:00:00 | Joint: Conference Rules Committee | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-08 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-08 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee and elect a chairman |
1789-04-08 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate elects a secretary and messenger |
1789-04-08 | 11:00:00 | House: Rules Committee | Additional Rules and Standing Orders are referred to the House |
1789-04-09 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-09 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-09 | 11:00:00 | Joint: Conference Rules Committee | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-13 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-13 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-13 | 11:00:00 | House: Rules Committee | The recommitted clauses of the Additional Rules and Standing Orders are amended and referred to the House |
1789-04-13 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Elections | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-13 | 11:00:00 | Senate: Rules Committee | The Committee refers its report to the Senate |
1789-04-14 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House considers the recommitted rules |
1789-04-14 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-14 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-15 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Conference Rules Committee presents its report |
1789-04-15 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate discusses the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-04-15 | 11:00:00 | Joint: Conference Rules Committee | The Committee's report is referred to the House |
1789-04-16 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House receives a letter from the Senate, regarding conference rules and electing chaplains |
1789-04-16 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate adopts the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-04-17 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-17 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-18 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Elections presents a report |
1789-04-18 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate amends the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-04-18 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Elections | The Committee's report is referred to the House |
1789-04-20 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-20 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-20 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-22 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-22 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-04-23 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-04-24 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House amends the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-04-25 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate elects a chaplain |
1789-04-27 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves to elect a Chaplain |
1789-04-30 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-05-01 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House elects a chaplain |
1789-05-01 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-05-04 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The consideration of amendments is scheduled for 25 May |
1789-05-05 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Virginia presents its address to Congress |
1789-05-06 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | New York presents its address to Congress |
1789-05-08 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves to elect a Sergeant at Arms |
1789-05-08 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-05-09 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-05-09 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-05-12 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Elections presents its report; the House elects a Sergeant at Arms |
1789-05-19 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Trumbull is appointed chairman of the Committee of the Whole |
1789-05-21 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-05-25 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The consideration of amendments is postponed until 8 June |
1789-05-25 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-05-29 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House debates a motion to amend the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-06-08 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Madison proposes amendments to the Constitution; several states submit forms of ratification |
1789-06-08 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-06-09 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House amends the Rules and Standing Orders |
1789-06-09 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee. Madison's proposed amendments are introduced. |
1789-06-15 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-06-16 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-06-17 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-06-17 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-07-13 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole |
1789-07-13 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | Boudinot becomes chairman of the Committee of the Whole |
1789-07-21 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Eleven is created; several states submit forms of ratification |
1789-07-21 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Eleven | State forms of ratification are delivered from the House; Congressmen join the committee |
1789-07-22 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee of the Whole is discharged from the consideration of Madison's amendments |
1789-07-25 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-07-27 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | Congressmen join the chamber |
1789-07-28 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Eleven delivers its report |
1789-07-28 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Eleven | The Committee of Eleven report is created and sent to the House |
1789-07-31 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee for Enrolled Bills is created |
1789-07-31 | 11:00:00 | Joint: Committee for Enrolled Bills | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-07-31 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate elects members to the Committee for Enrolled Bills |
1789-08-03 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Eleven report is scheduled for discussion on 12 August |
1789-08-13 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-13 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee receives the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-14 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-14 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee considers the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-15 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-15 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee considers the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-17 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-17 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee considers the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-18 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resolves into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee of Eleven report |
1789-08-18 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of the Whole | The Committee of the Whole report is finished and sent to the House |
1789-08-19 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House resumes and begins consideration of the Committee of the Whole report |
1789-08-20 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House considers the Committee of the Whole report |
1789-08-20 | 11:00:00 | Joint: Committee for Enrolled Bills | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-08-21 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House considers the Committee of the Whole report |
1789-08-22 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Committee of Three is created |
1789-08-22 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Three | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-08-24 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Three delivers its report |
1789-08-24 | 11:00:00 | House: Committee of Three | The Committee sends redrafted amendments to the House |
1789-08-25 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate receives amendments from the House |
1789-08-27 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Congressmen join the Committee of Enrolled Bills |
1789-08-27 | 11:00:00 | Joint: Committee for Enrolled Bills | Congressmen join the committee |
1789-09-02 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-03 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-04 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-07 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-08 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-09 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate considers the House amendments |
1789-09-10 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House receives the Senate's report on amendments to the Constitution |
1789-09-14 | 11:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The amendments are sent to be printed for the use of the members |
1789-09-19 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The consideration of Senate amendments is postponed |
1789-09-21 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | A Conference Committee is created to discuss the Senate amendments rejected by the House |
1789-09-21 | 10:00:00 | Joint: Conference Committee | Congressmen join the committee, committee report is released |
1789-09-21 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Conference Committee is appointed |
1789-09-23 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Conference Committee delivers its report |
1789-09-24 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate receives the Conference Committee report |
1789-09-24 | 13:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The House agrees to Senate amendments with a few minor changes and agrees to send copies of agreed amendments to the states |
1789-09-25 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | Senate notifies House of agreement to Amendments |
1789-09-25 | 11:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate receives amendments back from the House, following the Conference Committee report |
1789-09-26 | 10:00:00 | The Senate | The Senate agrees that copies of the amendments should be sent to the executives of the states |
1789-09-28 | 10:00:00 | The House of Representatives | The Committee of Enrolled Bills reports that the amendments were found to be truly enrolled |
1789-09-28 | 10:00:00 | Joint: Committee for Enrolled Bills | The amendments are enrolled |
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below
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11 historical records used for this dataset.
11 committees met in 136 sessions.
Average 12.36 sessions each.
Dates from Wednesday, 04 March 1789 to Monday, 28 September 1789.
92 people in 11 voting delegations.
Top 5 most active people are:
Summary of person events:
257 procedural motions considered.
Summary of procedural events:
50 documents considered with 477 amendments presented.
Summary of document events:
552 number of decisions made.
Summary of decision made:
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