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You should also read at the same time:
The anti-Federalist papers (What the opposition thought, plus these letters were the back and forth with the Federist papers)
and
Creating the Bill of rights - The house congressional record from the 1st congress, in the discussion of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Many Anti-Federalists were elected to the first congress, with the specific goal of limiting the power of the new Constitutional government. Their agenda, for the most part, passed (10 of the 12 Amendments were passed). Proposed amendment #2 was actually passed in the 1990s, which prevent congress from voting themselves a pay raise, directly.
One of the most interesting pieces was part of the "2nd amendment" which went by the way side: Conscientious Objection!
Oh, and I would prefer the original method of electing President and Vice President. Highest vote total becomes President. 2nd Highest becomes Veep. I think it would have been interesting if Gore was Veep under Bush during term 1 and Kerry was Veep now.
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James
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)
Red-beard for President, 2020
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