THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

39

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

establishing Hawaii's bill of rights day on december 15 annually.

 

WHEREAS, the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791; and

WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights recognizes, affirms, and protects fundamental human and civil rights for which persons of all races have struggled for thousands of years; and

WHEREAS, to preserve the rights and freedoms secured by the Bill of Rights, our Forefathers and hundreds of thousands of men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, as well as the individual non-military patriotic citizens, have sacrificed, suffered, and died; and

WHEREAS, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights deserve perennial celebrations to recognize and remember the sacrifices made to protect the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, the freedoms and rights that define America come from the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, an annual Bill of Rights Day would remind all members of government that government exists to serve, not to rule, the people; and

WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii, there has been no regular formal observance of a special day commemorating the ratification of the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, to commemorate the Bill of Rights with a special day would honor the fundamental rights it enshrines and the sacrifices made to create and preserve these rights, and would proclaim these rights to the citizens of the whole State of Hawaii, to this Nation, and to the World; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that a copy of the Bill of Rights be conspicuously posted at the State Capitol and provided to all citizens upon request; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that December 15th of every year be designated Bill of Rights Day in the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the first annual commemoration of Bill of Rights Day shall be on December 15, 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all government agencies be encouraged to observe the annual Bill of Rights Day in a manner that brings to mind the meaning and importance of each of the Ten Amendments contained in the Bill; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Urging the establishment of a Bill of Rights Day in the State of Hawaii.