Introduced By: Representatives George, Watson and Henseler
Date Introduced : May 5, 1999
WHEREAS, A constitution is defined as "body of fundamental laws and principles according to which a political state is governed. "; and
WHEREAS, A constitution determines the organization of a government, the functions and powers of the government in general and of its subdivision and offices, and how these functions and powers are to be exercised; and
WHEREAS, A constitution generally sets forth the substantive and procedural limitations on the government in its relationships with persons within the state and it provides for change through a specified process of formal amendment; and
WHEREAS, The United States Constitution, drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between May 25 and September 27, 1787 is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. It presents a set of general principles out of which implementing statutes and codes have emerged and it embodies the essence of constitutionality----that government must be confined by the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, As Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated in his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933--- "Our Constitution is so simple and practical that it is possible always to meet extraordinary needs by changes in emphasis and arrangement without loss of essential form."; and
WHEREAS, The framers of the United States Constitution sought to do what, as yet, Europeans had not tried; to make these enlightenment ideas the governing principles of a nation.
Moreover, the document stressed that the people were forming the government. Hence the phrase-- "We, the people....do ordain and establish this Constitution."; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 6, 1999 as a day to commemorate the deeds and accomplishments of our forebears in establishing the rule of constitutional law.
