H.C.R. 7

1

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LEGISLATORS
2 BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK
3 2004 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Kory M. Holdaway
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
10 civic education and America's Legislators Back to School Week September 20-24,
11 2004.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . emphasizes the importance of legislators promoting greater understanding of the
15 legislative process and building public trust and confidence in representative
16 democracy via civic education;
17 . recognizes Utah's high level of participation in America's Legislators Back to
18 School Week from students, teachers, and legislators during 2003; and
19 . urges increased support for and participation in America's Legislators Back to
20 School Week, September 20-24, 2004.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25 WHEREAS, civic education is a vital tool to promote greater understanding of the
26 legislative process and the role of legislators in representative democracy and to build public
27 trust and confidence;

28 WHEREAS, Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence stated,
29 "There is but one method of rendering a republican form of government . . . by disseminating
30 the seeds of virtue and knowledge through every part of the state by means of proper places and
31 modes of education . . . and this can be done effectively only by the aid of the legislature";
32 WHEREAS, Utah legislators, students, teachers, and administrators realize the
33 importance of compromise in reconciling competing interests in a diverse society;
34 WHEREAS, Utah legislators met personally with 16,500 students in 165 schools and
35 545 classrooms in 2003 to answer questions and listen to concerns on issues affecting students'
36 lives; and
37 WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) established
38 America's Legislators Back to School Week, a bipartisan event for legislators across the nation
39 to impart greater understanding of the necessity for debate, negotiation, and compromise in the
40 legislative process of developing effective public policy, and to engage future voters and
41 leaders in a dialogue about the value of representative democracy:
42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah, the
43 Governor concurring therein, support civic education to promote greater understanding of
44 government and the role of legislators in representative democracy.
45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor designate
46 September 20-24, 2004 as Legislators Back to School Week in Utah and urge all members of
47 the Legislature to visit students in classrooms during that week.
48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the State
49 Board of Education and the executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-20-04 3:25 PM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel