In December 1791, the states ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution—the Bill of Rights. Every year, the National Constitution Center hosts a celebration to honor the liberties enshrined in these amendments. This December, we present a series of programs and events highlighting the history and meaning of the First Amendment.
Countdown to the Bill of Rights DayJoin us live on Friday, December 15, to celebrate the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Participants can test their First Amendment knowledge through interactive programs and trivia, join a live guided tour of our new First Amendment gallery, and meet historic figures who used the First Amendment to expand the meaning of “We the People.”
Bill of Rights DayShortly after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the Founding generation added the Bill of Rights—the Constitution’s first 10 amendments. These amendments guarantee many of our most cherished liberties, including the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to a jury trial.
Read NowOn September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution in a Joint Resolution of Congress. Ten of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791.
Fifth Amendment: Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self Incrimination, Due Process, Takings
Criminal Procedure Clauses
Due Process Clause
Takings Clause
Sixth Amendment: Right To Speedy Trial By Jury, Witnesses, Counsel
Seventh Amendment: Jury Trial In Civil Lawsuits
Eighth Amendment: Excessive Fines, Cruel And Unusual Punishment
Our interactive shows the drafting process that led to the Bill of Rights
The National Constitution Center’s Founders’ Library includes primary texts that span American constitutional history, including that have shaped the American constitutional tradition.
Virginia House of Delegates, The Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)
Pennsylvania Convention, Pennsylvania Constitution (1776)
James Wilson, Speech at a Public Meeting in Philadelphia (1787)
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Correspondence on a Bill of Rights (1787-1789)
James Madison, Speech in Support of Amendments (1789)
George Mason, Objections to the Constitution of Government formed by the Convention (1787)
Read More DocumentsThe National Constitution Center’s Supreme Court Cases Library includes materials on the most influential Supreme Court cases in American history.
Read MoreWatch video conversations and discussions featuring leading scholars on topics including the Bill of Rights.
Read MoreThe Constitution Daily blog features stories on the origins of the Bill of Rights and related topics.
Read MoreExplore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.
Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.
Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.