European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I consent sir to this Constitution because i expect o better and because i am not sure it is not the Best. N the whole sir i cannot help expressing a wish that very member of the convention put his name Loiis  thirty nine delegates did so Al least one from Ach of the 12 states represented just three of the 42 delegates then in attendance Edmund Randolph George Mason and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign. Delegate Nicholas Gilman of new Hampshire observed it was done by bargain and Compromise yet notwithstanding its imperfections on the adoption of it depends. Whether or not we shall become a a spectacle nation or a people torn to pieces by intestine commotions and rendered contemptible for  the Constitution had to be ratified by nine of the 13 tales to become Law. Several did so Only after being issued it would later be accompanied by a Bill of rights. Orge Washington addressing i constitutional convention an it painting by Juntas Brutus in depicts a climactic nent at the end of the mention. Washington broke his its Long silence and uttered Constitution for the delegates Rovai mber14,1987 Delaware was to first to ratify on dec 7, 1787. The Constitution became Law on june 21. 1788. When new Hampshire became the ninth in december 1791, the Bill of rights which imposed limits on National Power and safeguarded personal liberties such As Freedom of religion speech and of the press became the Constitution s first 10 amendments. The Bicentennial has triggered one of the biggest reexamination s of the document since it was signed. Historians and political scientists have held forums and debates on the document s past present and future. Last May supreme court Justice Thurgood Marshall civic izod the founding fathers failure to give women and Blacks full rights of citizenship Marshall noted that it took the civil War to end slavery and the 19th amendment rallied m 1920, to give women the right to Vole the focus of this Celebration invites a complacent belief that the vision of those who debated and compromised in Philadelphia yielded the More perfect Union it is said we now enjoy i cannot accept this invitation a or do i find the Wisdom foresight and sense of Jur c of habited by the framers particularly profound " Marshall said the founding fathers Wou d be shocked to know that the document a now being interpreted by a court that included a woman Sandra Day o Connor and a descendant cd .1 Block slave himself Burger replied that no one a or so d me Constitution was perfect but that it was the Bosi that could be achieved Al the time and has served the nation Well test your Constitution knowledge United press International Ere Are 12 questions about the u s Constitution its amendments and the supreme court. Ii you get 10 or More Correct consider yourself a constitutional scholar. Answers below 1 which two of the following did not Man Iho Constitution a. Patrick Henry. B Thomas Jefferson. C George Washington. D Benjamin Franklin. E Roger Sherman. 2 How Many founding fathers signed Iho. Constitution a 55 b 39. C 13 d 12 3 two signers of the Constitution Lato became u s presidents. Name them. 4 the supreme court recently ruled tha n Texas Lyp isl s constitutional rights were violated when she was lived Lor cheering the 1981 attempted  of president Reagan. What right was violated 5 True or false. President Reagan is pushing Lor a cons emotional amendment thai would require u balanced Federal budget. U the Constitution was ratified by a duct vote of the people of the slalom u the state Legislatures. C special conventions called by each r, 7 which of the following rights do u s Cit Irons have hut Al cn1 do not have a due process. 0 Trail by jury. C vote and hold Public office 8 True or false. All the delegates Al Llu constitutional pm ivc lion were White males 0 Why was the convention in Philadelphia which later  known As the constitutional convention initially convened by Congress 10 True or false. Your Community can impose religious requirements As a qualification for running Lor Public office 11 on what grounds did the Justice department recently Challenge the constitutionality Ollie 1978 e Mihics in government act which passed in Wake of the watergate scandal created a special Pio secular s office 12 the Constitution s separation of Powers Between Iho executive legislative and judicial Branch of government is designed to do what7 answers 1 Patrick Henry who refused to attend the convention saying he smelt a  the emergence of a powerful Central government and Thomas Jefferson who. Al the time was minister to France 2 fifty live delegates representing 12 states Rhode i land refused to Send anyone attended the constitutional convention. But just 39 signed the document at least one from each of the 12 slates in a i Tendance. 3 George Washington and James Madison 4 the first amendment which guarantees Freedom of speech j True 6 c. Special convention. Delaware was the first to ratify. On acc 7.1787. The Constitution became Iho Law of the land on june 21,1788, when new Hampsh r c became the required 9lh state to ratify it 7 c 8 True 9 to strengthen the articles of con do Avion. Which  a weak Central government one Loo weak to if iwo the slates to do anything even pay to T3 the of  decided to scrap instead of bolster the articles of co it duration and to write a Constitution 10 false the Constitution forbid is Ich requirements. 11 the Justice department argued that the act violates h 0 Constitution s mandate for separation of Powers 12 prevent an abuse or misuse of  the stars and stripes Page 15