S.J.R. 8

1

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LIBERTY DAY
2 2003 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Ed P. Mayne
5 This joint resolution of the Legislature designates March 16, 2003 as Liberty Day in the
6 state of Utah. The resolution urges the citizens of Utah to reflect on the freedoms granted
7 to them in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
8 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
9 WHEREAS, the citizens of the United States of America enjoy liberties through the
10 passage of documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States
11 Constitution with its Bill of Rights;
12 WHEREAS, the rights and liberties enjoyed by the nation's citizens today are rooted in
13 these cherished documents that gave birth to this nation;
14 WHEREAS, the patriot James Madison, fourth President of the United States, was the
15 major author of the Virginia Plan, the model and the basis for the United States Constitution
16 that emerged from the Constitutional Convention of 1787;
17 WHEREAS, James Madison kept detailed written records of the debates and
18 compromises that were an integral part of the Constitutional Convention of 1787;
19 WHEREAS, James Madison wrote many of the newspaper articles now known as the
20 Federalist Papers, outlining why states should endorse the new Constitution;
21 WHEREAS, these writings have endured as some of the best arguments for the form of
22 government established by the Constitution;
23 WHEREAS, James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights into the 1st Congress of the
24 United States, which were adopted as the first ten amendments to the Constitution;
25 WHEREAS, since many Americans are not familiar with the contents of the
26 Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, an important effort should be made to
27 promote and nurture a familiarity and understanding of these founding documents; and

28 WHEREAS, the 16th day of March, the birthday of the distinguished Founding Father
29 James Madison, is a fitting day to designate as Liberty Day, a celebration of the Declaration of
30 Independence and the United States Constitution, which establish the unalienable rights and
31 liberties of this nation:
32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
33 designate March 16, 2003 as Liberty Day in the state of Utah.
34 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges that Liberty Day be
35 celebrated as a remembrance of the freedom that Americans were given in the Declaration of
36 Independence and the extraordinary rights and liberties protected in the Constitution.
37 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that gratitude and thanks be given to Lions Clubs
38 throughout Utah and the nation for initiating and carrying Liberty Day to the students of the
39 state and nation.
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that gratitude and thanks be expressed to all
41 representatives of the people who have voluntarily given their time to serve and to speak to
42 Americans about the founding documents.
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Lions Club
44 International and the secretary of the Utah Lions Clubs.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-27-03 11:16 AM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel