Senate Bill 1968

    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SR 1968

    By Senator King





    8-1434-00                                               See HB

  1                    Senate Resolution No.     

  2         A resolution recognizing December 15, 2000, as

  3         Bill of Rights Day.

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  5         WHEREAS, the first 10 amendments to the United States

  6  Constitution are referred to as the Bill of Rights, which

  7  limit and define the powers of government, and

  8         WHEREAS, several of the original states refused to

  9  ratify the Constitution without an express Bill of Rights, and

10         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights recognizes, affirms, and

11  protects fundamental human and civil rights for which persons

12  of all races have struggled for thousands of years, and

13         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights secures our freedom to

14  speak, print, read, assemble, pray, petition the government,

15  and keep and bear arms; protects us from unreasonable arrests

16  and searches, excessive bail, double jeopardy, coerced

17  confessions, and cruel and unusual punishment; and secures our

18  rights to due process, jury trials, and counsel, and to

19  present defense witnesses, and

20         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights protects our sovereign

21  state from the excesses of the Federal Government, and

22         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights is integral to the American

23  way of life, and America celebrates a variety of civic

24  holidays that remind us of the special contributions and

25  sacrifices made by our forefathers and leaders to preserve,

26  protect, and extend our freedoms, and

27         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights energizes our military

28  defense because members of the Armed Services of the United

29  States swear an oath to preserve and defend the United States

30  Constitution, which includes the Bill of Rights, and when

31  American military personnel fight and die for our country,

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SR 1968
    8-1434-00                                               See HB




  1  they do so to protect our rights and freedoms under the Bill

  2  of Rights, and

  3         WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would help prevent the

  4  Bill of Rights from being otherwise forgotten, and since many

  5  Americans do not know the Bill of Rights, this special day

  6  would encourage our schools to teach children this aspect of

  7  our American heritage, and

  8         WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would declare America's

  9  commitment to fundamental human rights to the whole world, and

10         WHEREAS, just as celebrating religious holidays reminds

11  Americans of our religious beliefs and traditions, a Bill of

12  Rights Day would remind Americans of the manner in which our

13  history and philosophy have secured the rights for which

14  oppressed people everywhere still yearn, and

15         WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would be a memorial day

16  honoring the personal sacrifices and deaths of countless

17  millions of people who have struggled for basic human and

18  civil rights over thousands of years, and

19         WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would remind all elected

20  and appointed officials and employees of the state and local

21  executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government

22  that their authority and powers are limited, and

23         WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would remind all members

24  of government that they serve the citizens, not rule them, and

25  that the citizens always hold the right to restrain

26  government, and

27         WHEREAS, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill

28  of Rights deserve perennial celebrations and the sacrifices

29  made to protect the Bill of Rights deserve eternal

30  remembrance, and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SR 1968
    8-1434-00                                               See HB




  1         WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights of the United States

  2  Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791, NOW,

  3  THEREFORE,

  4

  5  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

  6

  7         That December 15, 2000, is recognized as Bill of Rights

  8  Day in Florida.

  9         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all governmental bodies in

10  Florida be encouraged to observe the Bill of Rights Day in a

11  manner that brings to mind the meaning and importance of each

12  of the 10 provisions contained in this resolution.

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