2026 Constitution Week Spotlight

On this third day of Constitution Week, we focus on The Bill of Rights.

When the Constitution was submitted to the states for ratification, some Americans worried that it did not provide enough explicit protection for individual liberties. One response was the promise to add amendments protecting fundamental rights. 

James Madison introduced a series of proposed amendments in the First Congress in 1789. Twelve amendments were proposed and sent to the states. Ten were ratified in 1791 and became known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights protects freedoms and safeguards that remain central to American life. Among them are freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition; protections concerning searches and seizures; rights of people accused of crimes; and protections against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments also address rights retained by the people and powers reserved to the states or the people.

Today’s Quiz:

In what year were the ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights ratified?

a) 1787

b) 1789

c) 1791

d) 1795

Answer: c) The first ten amendments were ratified in 1791.

Which freedom is protected by the First Amendment?

a) Freedom of speech

b) Freedom from taxation

c) The right to a driver's license

d) The right to a jury in every civil dispute

Answer: a) The First Amendment protects freedom of speech along with religion, press, assembly, and petition.

This Constitution Week Spotlight was provided by Lieutenant George Farragut Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. For more information about DAR, please visit the chapter’s website at lgfdar.com.