Whereas from the founding days of the United States, the
Ten Commandments have been part of the Nation’s basic cultural fabric;
Whereas the sixth President of the United States, John
Quincy Adams, declared the Ten Commandments to be “laws essential to the
existence of men in society, and most of which have been enacted by every
nation, which ever professed any code of laws”;
Whereas the Ten Commandments are a widely respected code
of personal conduct and a declaration of fundamental principles for a fair and
just society that transcend the diversity of cultural expression and faith in
the United States;
Whereas a marble relief of Moses, the bearer of the Ten
Commandments, is prominently displayed over the gallery doors of the chamber of
the House of Representatives, in the United States Capitol;
Whereas images of the Ten Commandments are prominently
displayed in many Federal buildings, such as the United States Supreme Court,
National Archives, and Library of Congress; and
Whereas in addition to being understood as an elemental
source for United States law, the Ten Commandments have become a recognized
symbol in the Nation's culture: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)supports the designation of Ten
Commandments Weekend;
(2)celebrates the
significant role the Ten Commandments have played in the development of
significant public and private institutions of the United States; and
(3)encourages
citizens of all faiths and religious persuasions to reflect on the important
impact that the Ten Commandments have had on the people and national character
of the United States.