Bill Text: VA HJR709 | 2015 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Law Day 2015; commending.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 26-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-02-26 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ709ER) [HJR709 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2015-HJR709-Comm_Sub.html
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15105473D
WHEREAS, the General Assembly designated May 1 as Law Day in Virginia in 2009; and WHEREAS, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, by proclamation, declared May 1, 1958, as the first Law Day, stating that "it is fitting that the people of this Nation should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law which our forefathers bequeathed to us"; and WHEREAS, in 1961, the United States Congress, by joint resolution, designated May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day in the United States; and WHEREAS, President John F. Kennedy in 1961 stated that "the objectives of Law Day, USA, are to urge Americans to rededicate themselves to the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other and with other nations; to cultivate that respect for law which is vital in a democratic society; and to foster a full understanding and appreciation of our liberties and of the legal and judicial institutions which protect them"; and WHEREAS, President Kennedy urged "that public bodies, educational institutions, the legal profession, civic and service organizations, and the media of information take the lead in sponsoring and participating in educational undertakings and other appropriate means to give effect to the objectives of this national observance"; and WHEREAS, every United States President since 1958 and many governors and state legislatures have issued annual Law Day proclamations supporting a common theme; and WHEREAS, the Law Day 2015 theme is "Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law," marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, an international symbol of the rule of law and a foundation of many of the rights and freedoms Americans hold dear; and WHEREAS, Law Day programs continue to promote the rule of law through specific civic activities throughout the Commonwealth, including special events for K-12 students and other education and outreach programs in schools and communities; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Law Foundation and Virginia Bar Association sponsor "The Rule of Law Project," which teaches children the relevance and benefits of the rule of law in the United States and throughout the world; the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier sponsors "We the People – The Citizen and the Constitution" for middle and high school students; and Fairfax County Public Schools includes Law Day on its calendar of noteworthy events; and WHEREAS, in celebration of the importance of Law Day, citizens of the Commonwealth and the United States are encouraged to continue to commit themselves to the rule of law and to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in the nation's founding documents; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Law Day 2015; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the American Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Bar Association, and the Virginia School Boards Association as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the importance of Law Day 2015. |
