Senate Bill sb1036
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 1036
By Senator Sanderson
31-972-01 See HB
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to holidays; creating s.
3 683.25, F.S.; designating December 15 as "Bill
4 of Rights Day"; providing for a proclamation by
5 the Governor to that effect; providing an
6 effective date.
7
8 WHEREAS, the first 10 amendments to the United States
9 Constitution are referred to as the Bill of Rights, which
10 limit and define the powers of government, and
11 WHEREAS, several of the original states refused to
12 ratify the Constitution without an express Bill of Rights, and
13 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights recognizes, affirms, and
14 protects fundamental human and civil rights for which persons
15 of all races have struggled for thousands of years, and
16 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights secures our freedom to
17 speak, print, read, assemble, pray, petition the government,
18 and keep and bear arms; protects us from unreasonable arrests
19 and searches, excessive bail, double jeopardy, coerced
20 confessions, and cruel and unusual punishment; and secures our
21 rights to due process, jury trials, and counsel, and to
22 present defense witnesses, and
23 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights protects our sovereign
24 state from the excesses of the Federal Government, and
25 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights is integral to the American
26 way of life, and America celebrates a variety of civic
27 holidays which remind us of the special contributions and
28 sacrifices made by our forefathers and leaders to preserve,
29 protect, and extend our freedoms, and
30 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights energizes our military
31 defense because members of the Armed Services of the United
1
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 1036
31-972-01 See HB
1 States swear an oath to preserve and defend the United States
2 Constitution, which includes the Bill of Rights, and when
3 American military personnel fight and die for our country,
4 they do so to protect our rights and freedoms under the Bill
5 of Rights, and
6 WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would help prevent the
7 Bill of Rights from being otherwise forgotten, and since many
8 Americans do not know the Bill of Rights, this special day
9 would encourage our schools to instruct children about this
10 aspect of our American heritage, and
11 WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would declare America's
12 commitment to fundamental human rights to the whole world, and
13 WHEREAS, just as celebrating religious holidays reminds
14 Americans of our religious beliefs and traditions, a Bill of
15 Rights Day would remind Americans of the manner in which our
16 history and philosophy have secured the rights for which
17 oppressed people everywhere still yearn, and
18 WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would be a memorial day
19 honoring the personal sacrifices and deaths of countless
20 millions of people who have struggled for basic human and
21 civil rights over thousands of years, and
22 WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would remind all elected
23 and appointed officials and employees of the state and local
24 executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
25 that their authority and powers are limited, and
26 WHEREAS, a Bill of Rights Day would remind all members
27 of government that they serve the citizens, not rule them, and
28 that the citizens always hold the right to restrain
29 government, and
30 WHEREAS, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill
31 of Rights deserve perennial celebrations, and the sacrifices
2
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Florida Senate - 2001 SB 1036
31-972-01 See HB
1 made to protect the Bill of Rights deserve eternal
2 remembrance, and
3 WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights of the United States
4 Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791, NOW,
5 THEREFORE,
6
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9 Section 1. Section 683.25, Florida Statutes, is
10 created to read:
11 683.25 Bill of Rights Day.--
12 (1) December 15 of each year is designated as "Bill of
13 Rights Day."
14 (2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation
15 designating December 15 as "Bill of Rights Day" and calling
16 upon all citizens of the state to observe the occasion.
17 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
18 law.
19
20 *****************************************
21 HOUSE SUMMARY
22
Designates December 15 as "Bill of Rights Day." Provides
23 for a proclamation by the Governor to that effect.
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