Bill Text: IL HR1412 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizes the date of September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in the United States and encourages the citizens of this State to join us in celebrating this important date in our nation's history.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-11-15 - Referred to Rules Committee [HR1412 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2015-HR1412-Introduced.html
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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a national | ||||||
3 | observance that commemorates the formation and signing of the | ||||||
4 | Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787; and
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5 | WHEREAS, The President of the United States may issue a | ||||||
6 | proclamation each year calling on government officials within | ||||||
7 | the nation to display the country's flag on government | ||||||
8 | buildings on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, as well as | ||||||
9 | inviting the people to observe this event in schools, churches, | ||||||
10 | or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies; and
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11 | WHEREAS, On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, an event | ||||||
12 | which falls during Constitution Week, many people in the United | ||||||
13 | States recognize the anniversary of the Constitution and the | ||||||
14 | efforts and responsibilities of all citizens; in the summer of | ||||||
15 | 1787, delegates convened in Philadelphia to create "a more | ||||||
16 | perfect union" and to craft the Constitution; they worked to | ||||||
17 | develop a framework that would provide balance and protect | ||||||
18 | freedoms, taking into account federal and state interests, as | ||||||
19 | well as individual human rights; the delegates signed the | ||||||
20 | Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787; by | ||||||
21 | June 21, 1788, the Constitution was ratified by nine of the 13 | ||||||
22 | states; and
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1 | WHEREAS, In 1939, newspaper magnate William Randolph | ||||||
2 | Hearst advocated a day to celebrate United States citizenship; | ||||||
3 | in 1940, Congress created "I Am an American Day" to be | ||||||
4 | celebrated on the third Sunday in May; on February 29, 1952, | ||||||
5 | President Harry Truman signed "Citizenship Day" into law, | ||||||
6 | replacing "I Am an American Day"; on August 2, 1956, Congress | ||||||
7 | requested that the president proclaim the week beginning | ||||||
8 | September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as | ||||||
9 | "Constitution Week"; in December of 2004, a federal law was | ||||||
10 | enacted that designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and | ||||||
11 | Citizenship Day"; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Positive images of United States citizens of all | ||||||
13 | backgrounds have been used to promote the "Citizenship" element | ||||||
14 | of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day; the colors of the | ||||||
15 | United States flag, as well as images of the flag, have been | ||||||
16 | used in artwork for promotional material for the day, and | ||||||
17 | painted images of the Constitution's founders are also used to | ||||||
18 | illustrate the importance of the meaning behind the day; the | ||||||
19 | words "We the People", the first words of the Constitution, | ||||||
20 | have been highlighted in promotional materials to symbolize | ||||||
21 | unity and cooperation within the nation; and
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22 | WHEREAS, Various civil and educational authorities and | ||||||
23 | individuals throughout the United States observe Constitution | ||||||
24 | Day and Citizenship Day through a range of events and |
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1 | activities each year; the Center for Civic Education provides | ||||||
2 | lesson topics on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for | ||||||
3 | students at different levels and the United States Department | ||||||
4 | of Education provides various resources on the event; | ||||||
5 | educational institutions that receive federal funds also hold | ||||||
6 | educational programs on the United States Constitution on | ||||||
7 | September 17 each year; and
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8 | WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that the members of this | ||||||
9 | body join the national celebration of Constitution Day and | ||||||
10 | Citizenship Day; therefore, be it
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11 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
12 | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
13 | recognize the date of September 17 as Constitution Day and | ||||||
14 | Citizenship Day in the United States and encourage the citizens | ||||||
15 | of this State to join us in celebrating this important date in | ||||||
16 | our nation's history.
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