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

To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.

Document introduced in:

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

The Committee receives the Committee of Eleven report

Document View (with components):

Report of the Committee of the Whole

(Showing state at moment e126555)

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

[Report of the Committee of the Whole] [+e126524]

[+e126524]

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.'[+e126524]

Decisions yet to be taken

Report of the Committee of the Whole (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - CREATE - e126523) [This document]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126546)
  - Sedgwick's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126555) [This moment shown]

Document Timeline

Report of the Committee of the Whole (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - CREATE - e126523) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - First Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126524) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sherman's Amendment to the First Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126525) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126526) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126529) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-13 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126530) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Smith's Amendment to the First Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126540) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126545) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's Amendment to the First Propsition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126541) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126542) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126543) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126544) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126546) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Vining's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126547) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126548) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Ames's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126549) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126550) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126551) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Tucker's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126552) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126553) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126554) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sedgwick's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126555) [This moment shown] [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - POSTPONE_DEBATE - e126557) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126559) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Livermore's Amendment to the Second Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126556) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126558) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126560) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126561) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Third Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126562) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126563) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-14 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126564) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, First Clause (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126568) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126569) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sherman's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126570) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126571) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126572) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Madison's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126573) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126574) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126576) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Livermore's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126575) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126577) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126578) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Second Clause (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126579) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sedgwick's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126580) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126581) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126582) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Tucker's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126583) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126584) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126587) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126590) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126593) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126594) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-15 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126595) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Third Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126598) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126599) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126600) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126601) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Jackson's Amendment to the Fourth Resolution (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126602) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - Smith's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126603) [view current proposal at this moment]
      - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126604) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126605) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Stone's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126606) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126607) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Benson's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126608) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126609) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126610) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126611) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126612) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Burke's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126613) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126614) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126615) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Fourth Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126616) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sumter's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126617) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126618) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126619) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126620) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126621) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126622) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126623) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Fifth Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126624) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Benson's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126625) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126626) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126627) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Partridge's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126628) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126629) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Laurance's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126630) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126631) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126632) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Sixth Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126633) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Smith's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126634) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126635) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126636) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126637) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Seventh Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126638) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Benson's/Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126639) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126640) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Benson's/Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126641) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126642) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Livermore's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126643) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126644) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126645) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fourth Proposition, Eighth Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126646) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's Amendment to the Fourth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126647) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126648) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126649) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Fifth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126650) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Tucker's Amendment to the Fifth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126651) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126652) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126655) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Livermore's Amendment to the Fifth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126653) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126654) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126656) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Sixth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126657) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Benson's Amendment to the Sixth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126658) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126659) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126661) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Sedgwick's Amendment to the Sixth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126660) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126662) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126663) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Seventh Proposition, First Clause (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126664) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Burke's Amendment to the Seventh Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126665) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126666) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126667) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Livermore's Amendment to the Seventh Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126668) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126669) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126670) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Burke's Amendment to the Seventh Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126671) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126672) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - DROP_PROPOSAL - e126673) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-17 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126674) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Seventh Proposition, Second Clause (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126677) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Burke's Amendment to the Seventh Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126678) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126679) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126680) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Burke's Amendment to the Seventh Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126681) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126682) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126683) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Seventh Proposition, Third Clause (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126684) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126685) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Eighth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126686) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126687) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126688) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Ninth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126689) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Tucker's Amendment to the Ninth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126690) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e126691) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126692) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - Gerry's/Carroll's Amendment to the Ninth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126693) [view current proposal at this moment]
    - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - REJECT_PROPOSAL - e126694) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126695) [view current proposal at this moment]
- Report of the Committee of the Whole - Tenth Proposition (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e126696) [view current proposal at this moment]
  - None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e126697) [view current proposal at this moment]
- None (introduced on 1789-08-18 11:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e126700) [view current proposal at this moment]

Other Actions

View document

This is a development site