R009-9900

10	           	      RESOLUTION CONCERNING

20 		THE PASSING OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING 

30   		    ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED 

40			        STATES OF AMERICA



50	WHEREAS:	English is the language most traditionally associated with the 

60			United States of America; and,



70	WHEREAS:	There is currently no language recognized as the official language 

80			of the United States; and,



90	WHEREAS:	English-only laws have been previously declared Unconstitutional 

100			in the Federal Court System; and,



110	WHEREAS:	A 1919 Nebraska statute calling for classes in the Nebraska school 

120			system must be taught in English was struck down by the Supreme 

130 			Court in Meyer v. Nebraska for violating the Fourteenth 

140    			Amendment; and, 



150	WHEREAS:	Towns in Texas have been allowed to adopt Spanish-only policies 

160			for city business without penalty; and,



170	WHEREAS:	Jurisdictions have been required to fund bilingual programs due to

180 			bilingual provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and,



190	WHEREAS:	The United States needs to ensure that its citizens will be able to 

200			communicate both with each other and with their government 

210			officials in the future.



220	THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:	That he Maryland Student Legislature urges 

230			the United States Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment 

240			for the purpose of establishing English as the official language of 

250			the United States.



260	MANDATES:	Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert

270			Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott

280			Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle

290			Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

300			Senator Patrick Leahy

310			Congressman Henry Hyde, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee

320			Congressman John Conyers

330			Congressman Charles T. Canady, Chairman, House Subcommittee 

340			the Constitution

350			Congressman Ron Paul

360			Congressman Dick Armey





Co-Sponsors

Brian C. Griffiths

Western Maryland College

Box 523

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8640

Grimis66@aol.com







Ben Decker

Western Maryland College

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8248

bendex7@hotmail.com