H.C.R. 6 Enrolled

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING UTAH'S
LEGISLATORS BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
2005 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Margaret Dayton
Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
civic education and Utah's Legislators Back to School Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
. emphasizes the importance of legislators promoting greater understanding of the
legislative process and building public trust and confidence in representative
democracy through civic education;
. recognizes Utah's high level of participation in the National Conference of State
Legislatures' Legislators Back to School Week from students, teachers, and
legislators during 2004; and
. urges increased support for and participation in Utah's Legislators Back to School
Program during the 2005-2006 school year.
Special Clauses:
None

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 . . . 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, Utah legislators, students, teachers, and administrators realize the
importance of compromise in reconciling competing interests in a diverse society;
WHEREAS, Utah legislators met personally with 17,200 students in 200 schools and 575
classrooms in 2004 to answer questions and listen to concerns on issues affecting students' lives;
and
WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) established America's
Legislators Back to School Week, a bipartisan program 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 in a
dialogue about the value of representative democracy and to adapt to each individual state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, emphasizes and urges support of 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 19-23, 2005 as Utah's Legislators Back to School Kickoff in Utah and urge all
members of the Legislature to visit students in classrooms during that week or during the school
year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the State Board of
Education and the executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures.