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Edmon Low Library

2007: Danny Adkison

Madison's Solution to the Negative Pregnant

A negative pregnant is the negation of one thing, and an affirmance of another. According to Danny Adkison, concern over the possible creation of a negative pregnant led to Madison and others at the Constitutional Convention opposing a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

Adkison, an associate professor of political science at OSU and an expert on constitutional law, served as keynote speaker for the 2007 OSU Constitution Day Celebration. He discussed James Madison and the Negative Pregnant.

Conventional understanding often portrays the Framers as insensitive to individual rights. Adkison argued that the historical record clearly shows that concern for the legal concept known as "negative pregnant" explains their actions.

The framers saw two ways to avoid creating a negative pregnant with the Bill of Right: list every right imaginable or not create it. Madison found a solution, the Ninth Amendment.

The Ninth Amendment addresses rights not specifically outlined in the Constitution. It reads, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

The 2007 Oklahoma State University Constitution Day Celebration was held 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, in the Browsing Room at the Edmon Low Library. It was sponsored by the political science department and the OSU Library.