A picture of the original Bill of Rights. Much of the opposition to the proposed Constitution centered around the lack of a bill of rights, and the Constitution's ratification was predicated largely on the idea that it would be immediately amended to include one. Despite his opposition to a bill of rights in the drafting phase, as a member of the first Congress James Madison authored the original text of the twelve amendments proposed as the Bill of Rights. Two of the amendments, one regarding the apportionment of seats in the House and one regarding the compensation of legislators, failed to earn the support in the states necessary to ratify an amendment as outlined in Article V of the Constitution. The remaining ten amendments did pass and are known as the Bill of Rights.