HOUSE MEMORIAL 4

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Cathrynn N. Brown

A MEMORIAL

CELEBRATING THE ENDURING GREATNESS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; REQUESTING THAT ALL PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO REGARD AND TREAT THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WITH THE RESPECT IT IS DUE.

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution established three branches of government —— a legislature, the bicameral congress; an executive branch led by the president; and a judicial branch headed by the supreme court —— and specified the powers and duties of each branch; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution reserved all non-enumerated powers to the states and the people, and thereby established the federal system of government; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution was written in 1787 and is a marvel of brevity and of clarity; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution is the second oldest written constitution still in use by any nation in the world; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution has withstood the test of time, and two hundred twenty-four years later, the United States constitution has only been amended twenty-seven times; and

     WHEREAS, the bill of rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States constitution, which amendments limit the power of the United States federal government; and

     WHEREAS, the bill of rights confers the natural rights of liberty and property, which rights are considered to be self-evident and universal; and

     WHEREAS, constitution day commemorates the signing of the United States constitution on September 17, 1787, and was celebrated in fifth grade classrooms statewide during the week of September 12 through 16, 2011; and

     WHEREAS, it is critical that during the constitution day commemorations, schools and the state bar of New Mexico make abundantly clear to students across the state that their constitutional rights are inalienable and are never to be surrendered;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that all commemorations of constitution day that take place in New Mexico schools inform students that their constitutional rights are protected and are non-negotiable; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the New Mexico supreme court, the secretary of public education, the state bar of New Mexico and all county bar associations in New Mexico.

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