bill of rights day right no. 1

Thomas Jefferson (right) 'debates' James Madison in a staged event in Montpelier, Vt. Both Founders, however, were strong advocates of freedom on conscience. Toby Talbot/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Date published: 12/15/2007

RICHMOND--Today is National Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights is a part of our Constitution; it is made up of the first 10 amendments to that founding document.

The Bill of Rights was not part of the original Constitution, which described only how the government and its officials should operate and set forth our famous system of checks and balances.

In response to arguments that the Constitution of this new nation should also protect its citizens' rights, the Founders, led by James Madison, drafted 12 new articles. The states ratified only 10 of these as amendments to the Constitution. As a group, these 10 make up the Bill of Rights.

Virginia was the last state to ratify the amendments. When it did so on Dec. 15, 1791--216 years ago today--the Bill of Rights became a part of the Constitution.

This document established many of the rights that we as citizens still enjoy. Yet we seldom pause to think what a right is, and what it means for each of us.

The word "right" has several meanings. It can mean, of course, the opposite of "left" or of "wrong"; or it can mean entitlement or freedom. In that case, its opposite is something like duty or obligation. Unlike the case of the first two meanings, the opposite, or antonym, is no help in defining this kind of right.

When right takes on this third meaning--right as a privilege or exemption--it is, in fact, linked inextricably to its opposite, duty or responsibility. We have all heard the phrase, "With rights comes responsibility," and it's true. Rights come with responsibilities even though we do not speak of a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

In the Bill of Rights as ratified, the first right is freedom of religion. It begins, "Congress shall make no law establishing any religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Perhaps surprisingly, this document that protects the rights of individual citizens begins with "Congress." This is because the document is as much about responsibilities as about rights. "Rulers," in the eyes of the Framers, were the most likely culprits if religious liberty were restricted. Thomas Jefferson lambasted the "impious presumption of legislators and rulers who have assumed dominion over the faith of others" in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

Date published: 12/15/2007