US Congress Proposes Constitutional Amendments

Background. The Constitution's ratification in 1787–88 followed a bitter debate in which Anti-Federalists raised objections to the proposed frame of government. The new Congress, created by the Constitution's First Article, first met in 1789, replacing the Congress of the Confederation in its legislative function. Addressing Anti-Federalist criticisms became the impetus for amending the Constitution.

Drafting and Revision. Representative James Madison studied the deficiencies pointed out by Anti-Federalists and crafted a series of corrective proposals. After a procedural battle, the House took up his proposal as a full body on July 21, 1789, forwarding a revised set of seventeen amendments to the Senate on August 24. The Senate condensed them to twelve, approved September 9, 1789, eliminating Madison's proposal to apply parts of the amendments to the states.

Final Approval and Submission. A House–Senate Conference Committee convened on September 21, 1789, to resolve differences between the two chambers' proposals, issuing its report on September 24 that finalized twelve amendments. The final version was approved by joint resolution of Congress on September 25, 1789, and the twelve articles were officially submitted to the state legislatures on October 2, 1789.