Full Text of HR0509 94th General Assembly
HR0509 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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HR0509 |
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LRB094 12558 CSA 47156 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, American democracy was conceived as a vision where | 3 |
| government derives its authority through the consent of the | 4 |
| governed and that democracy succeeds best when the governed are | 5 |
| active and responsible participants; and
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| WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, in whose legacy the State of | 7 |
| Illinois stands, thoughtfully captured the idea of | 8 |
| self-governance in the Gettysburg Address when he said ours is | 9 |
| "the government of the people, by the people and for the | 10 |
| people"; and
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| WHEREAS, Recent studies have found that civic education in | 12 |
| our schools is inadequate and not a priority; and
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| WHEREAS, Studies have found that an overwhelming majority | 14 |
| of students lack a proficient understanding of civics, United | 15 |
| States history, and America's constitutional heritage; and
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| WHEREAS, Young people between the ages of 18 and 25 vote at | 17 |
| lower rates than any other age group; and
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| WHEREAS, Without an involved and informed citizenry, the | 19 |
| goals of democracy are threatened; and
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| WHEREAS, The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and the | 21 |
| Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools are working to create | 22 |
| ideas and develop ways in which the connection between civic | 23 |
| education and democracy can flourish; and
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| WHEREAS, It is our collective obligation to provide young | 25 |
| people with the opportunity to apply what they learn through | 26 |
| authentic civic learning and community service experiences | 27 |
| intentionally linked to formal curriculum and classroom | 28 |
| instruction; and
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HR0509 |
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LRB094 12558 CSA 47156 r |
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| WHEREAS, Illinois Democracy Schools have the potential to | 2 |
| achieve that shared responsibility; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 4 |
| NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 5 |
| the concept suggested by the Democracy Schools Initiative | 6 |
| should be implemented, when and where appropriate, by school | 7 |
| boards, principals, teachers, students, parents, and the | 8 |
| community as models for a place in which the rights, | 9 |
| obligations, and responsibilities of citizenship are fostered | 10 |
| and in which student leadership is encouraged.
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