2003-2004 Bill 4630: Ten Commandments, US Constitution ...



South Carolina General Assembly

115th Session, 2003-2004

H. 4630

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution

Sponsors: Reps. Viers, Barfield, Altman, Anthony, Bingham, G. Brown, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Frye, Harrison, Haskins, Herbkersman, Hosey, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Lucas, McCraw, Owens, Phillips, Pinson, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Simrill, D.C. Smith, G.R. Smith, Stille, Taylor, Whitmire and Young

Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5786cm04.doc

Introduced in the House on January 28, 2004

Introduced in the Senate on February 11, 2004

Adopted by the General Assembly on April 15, 2004

Summary: Ten Commandments, US Constitution, amendment

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number

1/28/2004 House Introduced HJ-44

1/28/2004 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions HJ-44

2/4/2004 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial Resolutions HJ-31

2/5/2004 House Debate adjourned until Tuesday, February 10, 2004 HJ-23

2/5/2004 Scrivener's error corrected

2/11/2004 House Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-28

2/11/2004 House Roll call Yeas-89 Nays-19 HJ-31

2/11/2004 Senate Introduced SJ-32

2/11/2004 Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-32

4/14/2004 Senate Committee report: Favorable General SJ-19

4/15/2004 Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence SJ-27

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/28/2004

2/4/2004

2/5/2004

4/14/2004

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 14, 2004

H. 4630

Introduced by Reps. Viers, Barfield, Altman, Anthony, Bingham, G. Brown, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Frye, Harrison, Haskins, Herbkersman, Hosey, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Lucas, McCraw, Owens, Phillips, Pinson, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Simrill, D.C. Smith, G.R. Smith, Stille, Taylor, Whitmire and Young

S. Printed 4/14/04--S.

Read the first time February 11, 2004.

            

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4630) to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact and submit to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow for the display, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

WILLIAM MESCHER for Committee.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT AND SUBMIT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GOVERNMENT OFFICES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES.

Whereas, the United States of America was founded by men and women with varied but strong religious beliefs; and

Whereas, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states, in part, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”, and that means that the government is prohibited from establishing an official religion, and also that no barriers shall be erected against the practice of any religion; and

Whereas, the establishment clause of the First Amendment was not drafted to protect Americans from religion; rather, its purpose was clearly to protect Americans from governmental control over religion; and

Whereas, the federal courts have erected barriers to the exercise of freedom of religion in public places, including rulings against the presence of the Ten Commandments in public schools, government offices, public buildings, and other public places and otherwise have misconstrued the intent of the First Amendment; and

Whereas, the United States Constitution specifies a remedy, namely by amendments to the Constitution; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina strongly believe that reaffirming a right to voluntary and nonmandated expressions of religion in public places is an important element of the religious freedom of this country; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina also strongly believe that the members of the Congress of the United States should enact legislation that allows for the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, government offices, public buildings, and other public places and to submit the same to the states for ratification. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact and submit to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow for the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, government offices, public buildings, and other public places.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.

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