EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, In the words of philosopher George Santayana, "Those who

1-2 do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"; and

1-3 Whereas, In the words of orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, "To be

1-4 ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

1-5 For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our

1-6 ancestors by the records of history?"; and

1-7 Whereas, In the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Governors of the

1-8 University of Virginia held on March 4, 1825, Thomas Jefferson, Founding

1-9 Father and third President of the United States of America, recorded that

1-10 the principles of government upon which the Constitution of the United

1-11 States of America is genuinely based are to be found essentially, with

1-12 respect to the distinctive principles of the government of the United States

1-13 of America, in the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and

1-14 the Farewell Address of President George Washington; and

1-15 Whereas, It is a generally held view that the Constitution of the United

1-16 States of America, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,

1-17 the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell

1-18 Address of President George Washington together encompass the periphery

1-19 and essence of the governing principles of the United States of America;

1-20 and

2-1 Whereas, General knowledge of these essential historical documents is

2-2 required of persons who desire to become naturalized citizens of the United

2-3 States of America and, by comparison, we should ask no less of our

2-4 children who enjoy citizenship in this country as their birthright; and

2-5 Whereas, Knowledge of the Constitution of the State of Nevada is

2-6 instrumental in understanding how the concepts and principles set forth in

2-7 national documents of historical significance apply at the state level; and

2-8 Whereas, Knowledge of documents that have been written and events

2-9 that have transpired in the two centuries following the founding of this

2-10 nation are also important to understanding the diverse culture that has

2-11 evolved in this nation as we approach the 21st century; now, therefore, be it

2-12 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-13 Concurring, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada hereby urges the

2-14 Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the

2-15 Nevada Legislature in 1997, to continue to incorporate into the standards of

2-16 content and performance that the Council establishes with respect to the

2-17 subject of social studies within the appropriate grade level, the study of the

2-18 Constitution of the United States of America, including, without limitation,

2-19 the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the State of Nevada, the Declaration

2-20 of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Gettysburg Address and the

2-21 Emancipation Proclamation; and be it further

2-22 Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada also urges the

2-23 Council to incorporate into its standards the study of documents and events

2-24 that reflect the full history of this country and its diverse citizenry,

2-25 including, without limitation, the Seneca Falls Declaration, "Ain’t I A

2-26 Woman?" by Sojourner Truth, the writings and activities of Susan B.

2-27 Anthony with respect to women’s rights, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,

2-28 the speech entitled "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr., the

2-29 Monroe Doctrine, the discussions of President Theodore Roosevelt with

2-30 respect to anti-trust law and the writings and activities of Ralph J. Bunche

2-31 with respect to the challenge of human relations; and be it further

2-32 Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a

2-33 copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Council to Establish

2-34 Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the Nevada Legislature

2-35 in 1997.