S.C.R. 3 Enrolled

RESOLUTION DESIGNATING LEGISLATORS
BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK
2003 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
civic education and designates September 22-26, 2003 as Legislators Back to School
Week.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, civic education is a vital tool to promote greater understanding of the
legislative process and the role of legislators in representative democracy and to build public
trust and confidence;
WHEREAS, Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence stated,
"There is but one method of rendering a republican form of government durable, and that is by
disseminating the seeds of virtue and knowledge through every part of the state by means of
proper places and modes of education and this can be done effectively only by the aid of the
legislature";
WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) established
America's Legislators Back to School Week, a national event for legislators across the nation,
to impart greater understanding of the necessity for debate, negotiation, and compromise in the
legislative process of developing effective public policy, and to engage future voters and
leaders of the state in a dialogue about the value of representative democracy;
WHEREAS, Legislators Back to School Week is a bipartisan effort for legislators to
visit schools in their districts and meet personally with young constituents to answer questions
and listen to concerns on issues affecting their lives; and
WHEREAS, Utah legislators benefit from interacting with students, teachers, and
administrators by emphasizing the importance of compromise in the difficult process of
reconciling competing interests in a diverse society:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah, the

Governor concurring therein, support civic education to promote greater understanding of
government and the role of legislators in representative democracy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor designate
September 22-26, 2003 as Legislators Back to School Week and urge all members of the
Legislature to visit students in classrooms during that week.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the State
Board of Education and the executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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