HR1412LRB099 23361 GRL 50818 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a national
3observance that commemorates the formation and signing of the
4Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The President of the United States may issue a
6proclamation each year calling on government officials within
7the nation to display the country's flag on government
8buildings on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, as well as
9inviting the people to observe this event in schools, churches,
10or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies; and
 
11    WHEREAS, On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, an event
12which falls during Constitution Week, many people in the United
13States recognize the anniversary of the Constitution and the
14efforts and responsibilities of all citizens; in the summer of
151787, delegates convened in Philadelphia to create "a more
16perfect union" and to craft the Constitution; they worked to
17develop a framework that would provide balance and protect
18freedoms, taking into account federal and state interests, as
19well as individual human rights; the delegates signed the
20Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787; by
21June 21, 1788, the Constitution was ratified by nine of the 13
22states; and
 

 

 

HR1412- 2 -LRB099 23361 GRL 50818 r

1    WHEREAS, In 1939, newspaper magnate William Randolph
2Hearst advocated a day to celebrate United States citizenship;
3in 1940, Congress created "I Am an American Day" to be
4celebrated on the third Sunday in May; on February 29, 1952,
5President Harry Truman signed "Citizenship Day" into law,
6replacing "I Am an American Day"; on August 2, 1956, Congress
7requested that the president proclaim the week beginning
8September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as
9"Constitution Week"; in December of 2004, a federal law was
10enacted that designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and
11Citizenship Day"; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Positive images of United States citizens of all
13backgrounds have been used to promote the "Citizenship" element
14of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day; the colors of the
15United States flag, as well as images of the flag, have been
16used in artwork for promotional material for the day, and
17painted images of the Constitution's founders are also used to
18illustrate the importance of the meaning behind the day; the
19words "We the People", the first words of the Constitution,
20have been highlighted in promotional materials to symbolize
21unity and cooperation within the nation; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Various civil and educational authorities and
23individuals throughout the United States observe Constitution
24Day and Citizenship Day through a range of events and

 

 

HR1412- 3 -LRB099 23361 GRL 50818 r

1activities each year; the Center for Civic Education provides
2lesson topics on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for
3students at different levels and the United States Department
4of Education provides various resources on the event;
5educational institutions that receive federal funds also hold
6educational programs on the United States Constitution on
7September 17 each year; and
 
8    WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that the members of this
9body join the national celebration of Constitution Day and
10Citizenship Day; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13recognize the date of September 17 as Constitution Day and
14Citizenship Day in the United States and encourage the citizens
15of this State to join us in celebrating this important date in
16our nation's history.