Roger Sherman and the Bill of Rights

Abstract

This note analyzes the draft Bill of Rights in Roger Sherman's handwriting found among the James Madison papers at the Library of Congress in 1987 and the circumstances of its formulation. Though in Sherman's handwriting, it represents not his personal views, but the work of members of the congressional select committee, on which he served, charged with preparing a draft from James Madison's initial proposals. The draft differs from both Madison's initial proposals and the version finally adopted, and these differences provide material increasing our understanding of the Bill of Rights.