S.J.R. 6

1

JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING
2 LIBERTY DAY
3 2001 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Ed P. Mayne
6 This joint resolution of the Legislature designates March 16, 2001 as Liberty Day in the state
7 of Utah. The resolution urges the citizens of Utah to reflect on the freedoms granted to them
8 in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
9 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
10 WHEREAS, the citizens of the United States of America enjoy liberties through the
11 passage of documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution
12 with its Bill of Rights;
13 WHEREAS, the rights and liberties enjoyed by the nation's citizens today are rooted in
14 these cherished documents that gave birth to this nation;
15 WHEREAS, the patriot James Madison, fourth President of the United States, was the
16 major author of the Virginia Plan, the model and the basis for the United States Constitution that
17 emerged from the Constitutional Convention of 1787;
18 WHEREAS, James Madison kept detailed written records of the debates and compromises
19 that were an integral part of Constitutional Convention of 1787;
20 WHEREAS, James Madison wrote many of the newspaper articles now known as the
21 Federalist Papers, outlining why states should endorse the new Constitution;
22 WHEREAS, these writings have endured as some of the best arguments for the form of
23 government established by the Constitution;
24 WHEREAS, James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights into the 1st Congress of the
25 United States, which were adopted as the first ten amendments to the Constitution;
26 WHEREAS, since many Americans are not familiar with the contents of the Declaration
27 of Independence and the Constitution, an important effort should be made to promote and nurture

28 a familiarity and understanding of these founding documents; and
29 WHEREAS, the 16th day of March, the birthday of the distinguished Founding Father
30 James Madison, is a fitting day to designate as Liberty Day, a celebration of the Declaration of
31 Independence and the United States Constitution, which establish the unalienable rights and
32 liberties of this nation:
33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
34 designate March 16, 2001 as Liberty Day in the state of Utah.
35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges that Liberty Day be celebrated
36 as a remembrance of the freedom that Americans were given in the Declaration of Independence
37 and the extraordinary rights and liberties protected in the Constitution.
38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that gratitude and thanks be given to Lions Clubs
39 throughout Utah and the nation for initiating and carrying Liberty Day to the students of the state
40 and nation.
41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that gratitude and thanks be expressed to all representatives
42 of the people who have voluntarily given their time to serve and to speak to Americans about the
43 founding documents.
44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Lions Club
45 International and the secretary of the Utah Lions Clubs.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-8-01 4:59 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel