110 HRES 1450 IH: Amending the Rules of the House of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-09-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1450 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2008 Mr. Conaway (for himself, Mrs. Cubin, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, and Mr. Bishop of Utah) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules RESOLUTION Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require officers and employees of the House to read the Constitution of the United States each year.

Whereas the United States Constitution articulates principles envisioned by the Founding Fathers; Whereas the United States Constitution is the written set of the fundamental principles by which the United States is governed; Whereas Article I of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch; Whereas the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land; Whereas the United States Constitution is the world’s oldest written national constitution; Whereas the United States Constitution confers honor and responsibility upon Members of Congress; Whereas the United States Constitution should be known by those who legislate; and Whereas the United States Constitution is a dynamic governing document of and for the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

1.

Short Title

This resolution may be cited as the A Modest Effort to Read and Instill the Constitution Again Resolution of 2008 or the AMERICA Resolution of 2008.

2.

Sense of the House of Representatives

It is the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of Congress, who swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and are responsible for writing laws regarding the powers granted to the Government and proposing constitutional amendments, should read this important document, including its amendments.

3.

Annual Reading of the Constitution Required for House Officers and Employees

Clause 3(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (7)(A)The committee shall provide a copy of the Constitution of the United States to each new Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee of the House. (B)Not later than January 31 of each year, each officer and employee of the House shall file a certification with the committee attesting that the officer or employee has read the Constitution of the United States in its entirety in the previous year. .