[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE CONSTITUTION, A UNIQUE DOCUMENT

  (Mr. BLUNT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrated the 210th anniversary 
of the Constitution. The Constitution is different than any other 
document that was ever devised as a framework for Government on this 
continent or any other, and the difference in the Constitution is found 
in the first three words, ``We the people.''
  No other document ever purported to be the framework for Government 
and get its right to govern from the people. The Magna Carta started, 
``We the Barons of England.'' The Articles of Confederation started, 
``We the States.''
  This document has been the framework that has lasted longer than any 
other document that has been the framework for Government. It has been 
copied by country after country.
  One of the major tenets of the Constitution is the importance of 
State governments, the importance of communities, the importance of a 
Federal Government that acts appropriately in this Federal system we 
have.
  We will be bringing bills to the House later this year, as the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Rogan] has pointed out, that I am a 
cosponsor of, that we have cosponsors of from both sides of the aisle, 
that talk about giving more decisionmaking back to states, back to 
communities, and education. I look forward to that debate.

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