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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On September 17, 1787, our nation's foundational |
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document was signed by 39 brave men who changed the course of |
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history, and each year, we celebrate the anniversary of that |
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momentous milestone as Constitution Day; and |
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WHEREAS, This important observance was established in 2004, |
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when the U.S. Congress passed a bill designating September 17 as |
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the day for citizens to reflect upon the ideals of freedom set forth |
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and realized in the U.S. Constitution; in addition, the legislation |
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requires the teaching of the Constitution in schools so that our |
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future generations will understand the importance of this document, |
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which embodies liberty and freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, The world's oldest written national charter of |
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government, the Constitution created the framework for federal |
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governance, and its opening words, "We the People," affirm that the |
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government of the United States exists to serve the country's |
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citizens; the framers wisely separated and balanced governmental |
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powers to safeguard the principle of majority rule and minority |
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rights, the ideals of liberty and equality, and the interests of the |
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federal and state governments; and |
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WHEREAS, In its first three articles, the Constitution |
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established a republic representative form of government composed |
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of three separate branches, the legislative, executive, and |
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judicial; a system of checks and balances limits the powers of each |
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branch; two years after the signing, 10 amendments, known as the |
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Bill of Rights, were added to guarantee specific civil liberties; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A covenant that continues to shape our daily lives, |
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the U.S. Constitution has served as the cornerstone of our republic |
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for more than two centuries, and it has become an internationally |
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celebrated model for creating a system of government of the people, |
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by the people, and for the people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize September 17, 2024, as Constitution |
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Day and encourage all Texans to learn more about the United States |
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Constitution and its vital role in the preservation of the rights |
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and freedoms of all Americans. |