Welcome to Call to Decision 

 American Minute with Bill Federer

 December 15

 Newly independent, the thirteen States were concerned their new
 government may become too powerful, as King George's was.

 They insisted handcuffs be place on the power of the Federal
 Government.

 We call these the First Ten Amendments or Bill of Rights, ratified
 DECEMBER 15, 1791.

 The First states:

 "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
 speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
 assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
 grievances."

 Regarding this, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Samuel Miller, January 23,
 1808:

 "I consider the government of the U.S. as interdicted by the
 Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their
 doctrines, discipline, or exercises.

 This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made
 respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from
 that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to
 the U.S."

 Jefferson continued:

 "Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the
 times for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according
 to their own particular tenets."