During the month of July the League of Women Voters of the Huntington Area is displaying information on the Bill of Rights in the downtown library, second floor. We also are providing Bill of Rights bookmarks at all of the branch libraries.
The underlying principles of the Bill of Rights were stated in the Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The original Constitution failed to include a list of these Rights. In order to get enough state legislatures to ratify the Constitution, Congress was politically pressured into adding them as amendments, the “Bill of Rights.” These ten amendments were finally ratified by the states and became law in 1791.
Originally, the Bill of Rights restricted only the power of the Federal government, but eventually, through additional amendments and court decisions, came to restrict state governments as well.
The Bill of Rights is not only an important part of our nation’s history, but also a living document that will guide us into the future”, voiced Helen Gibbins, President of the League of Women Voters. “The League calls for civic vigilance in protecting the Bill of Rights. As Ira Glasser said, ‘Civil liberties’ victories never stay won, but must be fought for over and over again.’”