[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 686 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 686

  Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high 
  school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior 
                                 year.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2009

    Mr. Grayson (for himself and Mr. Paul) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high 
  school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior 
                                 year.

Whereas the United States Constitution is the fundamental law of the United 
        States;
Whereas people in the United States of all ages, income levels, and political 
        beliefs fail tests of civic literacy;
Whereas a 1998 survey revealed that more teenagers knew who the ``Fresh Prince 
        of Bel-Air'' was than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, more knew 
        the star of the motion picture ``Titanic'' than who was the vice 
        president of the United States, and more can name the Three Stooges and 
        the 3 American Idol judges than can name the 3 branches of government;
Whereas three-quarters of people in the United States cannot distinguish the 
        difference between a judge and a legislator;
Whereas fewer than half of all people in the United States can name the three 
        branches of the United States Government;
Whereas nearly half of the States in the Nation no longer require the teaching 
        of civics and American history;
Whereas students at top colleges and universities in the United States scored an 
        average of only 59.4 percent for seniors and 56.6 percent for freshmen 
        on tests of civic literacy;
Whereas people in the United States aged 25 to 34 score an average of 46 percent 
        on a test of civic literacy and people aged 65 and over score the same 
        46 percent;
Whereas research shows that an increase in civic knowledge, including that of 
        the United States Constitution, almost invariably leads to the 
        beneficial use of that knowledge; and
Whereas research shows that greater civic learning leads to more active 
        citizenship, and people in the United States who fulfill their civic 
        obligations beyond voting are more knowledgeable about their country's 
        history and institutions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) all high school seniors across the country should spend 
        at least one week learning about the United States Constitution 
        in September of their senior year, as knowledge of this 
        historic document, which constitutes the very foundation of our 
        country, is critical to being an effective citizen; and
            (2) upon reaching voting age, high school seniors should 
        petition the government on an issue of importance to them to 
        demonstrate their understanding of their rights and 
        responsibilities as citizens of the United States.
                                 <all>