Q: What was the first amendment proposed to the United States Constitution?

A: Sometimes referred to as “The Congressional Apportionment Amendment”, the first of 12 amendments submitted to the state legislatures for ratification was authored (as all 12 were) by James Madison, 4th president of the United States when he was a representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

It was to ensure a minimum representation of the common people in the new government. It has been ratified by 11 states and rejected by one.