[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 774 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 774

  Designating September 2022 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

                           September 19, 2022

   Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating September 2022 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 Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln described democracy, 
        respectively, as the ``light that led us out of gothic darkness'' and 
        the ``last best hope'' of humankind;
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, including 
        the addition of the Reconstruction Era amendments, 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 Congressman John R. Lewis said, in his final words to the United States, 
        ``Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do 
        its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation 
        and world society at peace with itself.'';
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 the Government of the United States must 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 2022 as ``National Democracy 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages States and local governments to designate 
        September 2022 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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