United States Constitutional Amendments: Preamble to the Bill of Rights Ratified December 15, 1791.
"Congress
of the United States begun and held at the City of New York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and
eighty-nine.
The Conventions of a number of the States, having at
the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire in order
to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further
declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending
the ground of public confidence in the Government will best ensure the
beneficent ends of its institution.
Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring that the following
Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several states as
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which
articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures to be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution.
Articles
in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States
of America, proposed by Congress and Ratified by the Legislatures of the
several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original
Constitution.”
