Arizona lawmaker calls resolution an appropriate way to mark Constitution Day
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed House passage of a resolution recommending that U.S. Constitution be taught to high school students in September of their senior year.
“Two-hundred twenty-two years ago on Thursday, delegates to the Constitutional Convention met to sign the document that was to become the fundamental law of our nation,” said Giffords. “Passage of this resolution is an appropriate way to mark Constitution Day and to make sure that the next generation of Americans appreciates our Constitution’s enduring value.”
House Resolution 686 passed today in a voice vote. Giffords is a co-sponsor.
The resolution states that “all high school seniors across the country should spend at least one week learning about the United States Constitution in September of their senior year, as knowledge of this historic document, which constitutes the very foundation of our country, is critical to being an effective citizen.”
The complete text of the resolution is below.
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 686
Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior year.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2009
Mr. GRAYSON (for himself and Mr. PAUL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
RESOLUTION
Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior year.
Whereas the United States Constitution is the fundamental law of the United States;
Whereas people in the United States of all ages, income levels, and political beliefs fail tests of civic literacy;
Whereas a 1998 survey revealed that more teenagers knew who the `Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' was than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, more knew the star of the motion picture `Titanic' than who was the vice president of the United States, and more can name the Three Stooges and the 3 American Idol judges than can name the 3 branches of government;
Whereas three-quarters of people in the United States cannot distinguish the difference between a judge and a legislator;
Whereas fewer than half of all people in the United States can name the three branches of the United States Government;
Whereas nearly half of the States in the Nation no longer require the teaching of civics and American history;
Whereas students at top colleges and universities in the United States scored an average of only 59.4 percent for seniors and 56.6 percent for freshmen on tests of civic literacy;
Whereas people in the United States aged 25 to 34 score an average of 46 percent on a test of civic literacy and people aged 65 and over score the same 46 percent;
Whereas research shows that an increase in civic knowledge, including that of the United States Constitution, almost invariably leads to the beneficial use of that knowledge; and
Whereas research shows that greater civic learning leads to more active citizenship, and people in the United States who fulfill their civic obligations beyond voting are more knowledgeable about their country's history and institutions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) all high school seniors across the country should spend at least one week learning about the United States Constitution in September of their senior year, as knowledge of this historic document, which constitutes the very foundation of our country, is critical to being an effective citizen; and
(2) upon reaching voting age, high school seniors should petition the government on an issue of importance to them to demonstrate their understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the United States.