HR0382 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0382 LRB103 33819 ECR 63633 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, September 17, 2023 marks the 236th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States of America, the guardian of our liberties, embodies the principles of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law; and

WHEREAS, The Daughters of the American Revolution organization was responsible for the annual designation of September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week; and

WHEREAS, The Daughters of the American Revolution made its own resolution for Constitution Week, which was adopted on April 21, 1955; and

WHEREAS, Members of the U.S. Congress received the resolution, and the resolution was discussed in the U.S. Senate on June 7, 1955; and

WHEREAS, The first national resolution to observe Constitution Week was made on June 14, 1955 by Senator William F. Knowland of California; and

WHEREAS, Following the passage of the resolution by both houses of Congress, President Eisenhower issued his proclamation on August 19, 1955; and

WHEREAS, The first observance of Constitution Week was so successful that on January 5, 1956, Senator Knowland introduced a Senate Joint Resolution to have the president designate September 17 through 23 annually as Constitution Week; and

WHEREAS, The resolution was adopted on July 23, 1956 and signed as Public Law 915 on August 2, 1956; and

WHEREAS, Public Law 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate it; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the week of September 17 through September 23, 2023 as Constitution Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge our citizens to reaffirm the ideals the framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Daughters of the American Revolution organization as a symbol of our esteem and respect.