[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 252 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 252

  Designating September 2019 as National Democracy Month as a time to 
reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United 
                States to a more free and stable world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 19, 2019

  Mr. Graham (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating September 2019 as National Democracy Month as a time to 
reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United 
                States to a more free and stable world.

Whereas, 2,000 years after the ancient Greeks laid the groundwork for democracy, 
        the founders of the United States built an even greater system of 
        government, a democratic republic, propelling the United States to 
        become the most advanced nation in human history;
Whereas the model of government of the United States has been reproduced around 
        the world;
Whereas, according to Freedom House, more than 1 in 3 people in the world do not 
        live in states considered free;
Whereas the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, with the 
        addition of the Reconstruction Era amendments, including the 14th and 
        15th Amendments, and the 19th Amendment, enshrine the rights and civil 
        liberties of citizens of the United States, including the right to vote 
        in free and fair elections;
Whereas the perpetuation of the ideals of democracy does not happen on its own, 
        and can be stalled or reversed;
Whereas surveys show that citizens of the United States are losing faith in the 
        democratic system;
Whereas former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said, ``The practice of 
        democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught 
        and learned anew by each generation of citizens.'';
Whereas President John F. Kennedy said, ``Democracy is never a final 
        achievement. It is a call to untiring effort, to continual sacrifice and 
        to the willingness, if necessary, to die in its defense.'';
Whereas President Ronald Reagan said, ``Democracy is worth dying for, because 
        it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by 
        man.'';
Whereas World War II demonstrated the fragility of democracy and the civilized 
        life that accompanies democracy;
Whereas British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed that, ``Indeed it has 
        been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all 
        those other forms that have been tried from time to time . . . .'';
Whereas President George Washington said the United States must recognize the 
        immense value of the national Union and work towards preservation of 
        that Union with ``jealous anxiety'', and wrote that the security of a 
        free Constitution may be accomplished by ``teaching the people 
        themselves to know and to value their own rights'';
Whereas President Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``Educate and inform the whole mass of 
        the people . . . . They are the only sure reliance for the preservation 
        of our liberty.''; and
Whereas evidence of the diminution of strong support for democratic principles 
        in recent years among citizens of the United States suggests the 
        Government of the United States must once more teach and educate the 
        people by taking appropriate actions to highlight and emphasize the 
        importance of democratic principles and the essential role of democratic 
        principles in the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the people of the 
        United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2019 as ``National Democracy 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages States and local governments to designate 
        September 2019 as ``National Democracy Month'';
            (3) recognizes the celebration of ``National Democracy 
        Month'' as a time to reflect on the contributions of the system 
        of government of the United States to a more free and stable 
        world; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        ``National Democracy Month'' with appropriate ceremonies and 
        activities that--
                    (A) provide appreciation for the system of 
                government of the United States; and
                    (B) demonstrate that the people of the United 
                States shall never forget the sacrifices made by past 
                generations of people of the United States to preserve 
                the freedoms and principles of the United States.
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