THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

13

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

DECLARING DECEMBER 15 AS BILL OF RIGHTS DAY.

 

WHEREAS, the First Ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791; and

WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights recognizes, affirms, and protects fundamental human and civil rights for which persons of all races have struggled for thousands of years; and

WHEREAS, to preserve the rights and freedoms secured by the Bill of Rights, our forefathers, and hundreds of thousands of men and women serving in the police agencies and armed forces of the United States, have sacrificed, suffered and died; and

WHEREAS, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights deserve perennial celebrations and the sacrifices made to protect the Bill of Rights deserve eternal remembrance; and

WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii there has been no formal observance, as in other states, of a special day commemorating the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and several of the original states refused to ratify the Constitution without an express Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, to commemorate the Bill of Rights with a special day would honor the fundamental rights it enshrines and the sacrifices made to create and preserve these rights, and would proclaim these rights to the citizens of the State, to this Nation and to the World; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that this body declares December 15 of every year be designated Bill of Rights Day in the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to permit copies of the Bill of Rights to be conspicuously displayed at the State Capitol building and provided to all citizens upon request; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all government agencies be encouraged to observe the annual Bill of Rights Day in a manner that brings to mind the meaning and importance of each of the Ten Articles contained in that Bill; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the first annual commemoration of Bill of Rights Day begin on December 15, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Bill of Rights Day