Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 38–Committee on Constitutional Amendments

 

May 25, 2001

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Referred to Committee on Constitutional Amendments

 

SUMMARY—Endorses support and expansion of programs that motivate students to learn more about democratic system of government. (BDR R‑1554)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Endorsing the support and expansion of programs that motivate students to learn more about the democratic system of government and other programs which encourage involvement in the democratic system of government.

 

1-1    Whereas, Section 2 of article 1 of the Constitution of the State of

1-2  Nevada provides that “all political power is inherent in the people” and that

1-3  “government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the

1-4  people”; and

1-5    Whereas, The Nevada Legislature acknowledged these provisions in

1-6  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38 of the 68th legislative session in

1-7  1995, which encouraged public officers and employees, state agencies,

1-8  local governments and the residents of this state to develop new ideas and

1-9  programs to increase the participation of the residents of this state in the

1-10  development of public policy and to improve the operation of government

1-11  at all levels; and

1-12    Whereas, In 1997, the Nevada Legislature enacted legislation which

1-13  authorized the creation of the Advisory Committee on Participatory

1-14  Democracy by the Director of the Department of Museums, Library and

1-15  Arts and mandated that the Director submit a report to the 71st session of

1-16  the Nevada Legislature; and

1-17    Whereas, The Department of Museums, Library and Arts has filed

1-18  with the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature a report entitled

1-19  Participatory Democracy in Nevada; and

1-20    Whereas, The Nevada Legislature has considered that report and has

1-21  determined that the recommendations contained therein deserve broader

1-22  recognition and consideration by public officers and agencies, local

1-23  governments, organizations and the residents of Nevada; now, therefore, be

1-24  it

1-25    Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

1-26  Concurring, That the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall:

2-1    1.  Facilitate the dissemination of a copy of this resolution together

2-2  with the report entitled Participatory Democracy in Nevada filed with the

2-3  71st session of the Nevada Legislature to each elected officer of this state,

2-4  each city and county government, the board of trustees of each school

2-5  district, the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of the

2-6  University of Nevada, the Nevada Supreme Court, and any other public

2-7  officers or employees, organizations, associations and residents of this state

2-8  who request a copy.

2-9    2.  Encourage those officers, organizations, associations and other

2-10  persons to cooperate in developing new ideas and programs to increase the

2-11  quality and extent of participatory democracy in Nevada, including the

2-12  enhancement of citizen participation in elections; and be it further

2-13    Resolved, That the Director of the Department of Museums, Library

2-14  and Arts is hereby urged to amend the current regulations establishing the

2-15  Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy by extending the

2-16  existence of the Committee beyond its scheduled expiration on December

2-17  31, 2002, and by adding the Secretary of State or his designee as a member

2-18  of the committee; and be it further

2-19    Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby acknowledges that a

2-20  primary focus of all classes in this state which teach civics and skills and

2-21  values of citizenship should be the provision of meaningful and relevant

2-22  instruction and guidance in developing the intellectual and participatory

2-23  skills of students at all grade levels to apply critical reasoning in response

2-24  to the challenges of civic life in a constitutional democracy; and be it

2-25  further

2-26    Resolved, That the educational officers in Nevada are hereby urged to

2-27  assess whether adequate resources are available to support the programs

2-28  that are necessary for citizenship development of the children and youth in

2-29  Nevada’s schools and to make recommendations to the board of trustees of

2-30  each school district, the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of

2-31  the University of Nevada, the Governor, the Legislature or the Director of

2-32  the Department of Museums, Library and Arts for referral to the repository

2-33  created by NRS 378.400 or the Advisory Committee on Participatory

2-34  Democracy for ways these resources can be improved and better used; and

2-35  be it further

2-36    Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature strongly endorses continued

2-37  support and expansion of existing programs which motivate students to

2-38  learn more about our democratic system of government, including

2-39  “America’s Legislators Back to School Day,” sponsored by the National

2-40  Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), “We the People . . . Project

2-41  Citizen,” developed by the Center for Civic Education in collaboration

2-42  with the NCSL, “We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution,”

2-43  administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the United

2-44  States Department of Education, “Kids Voting Nevada,” currently active in

2-45  Clark County, the high school mock trial competitions and other

2-46  educational programs relating to the law that are supported by the State Bar

2-47  of Nevada and “CIVITAS,” an international teacher exchange program

2-48  administered by the Center for Civic Education; and be it further

3-1    Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature urges the Nevada Association

3-2  of Counties and the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities to expand

3-3  upon their “Award of Excellence in Participatory Democracy” and

3-4  innovation in government programs and to work with the Department of

3-5  Museums, Library and Arts in using the repository created by NRS

3-6  378.400 to maintain a record of all successful programs of local

3-7  governments in Nevada which involve citizens in the development of

3-8  public policy and the improvement of the operations of government; and be

3-9  it further

3-10    Resolved, That the Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy

3-11  and the Director of the Department of Museums, Library and Arts, working

3-12  in cooperation with the Legislative Counsel Bureau, prepare a report for

3-13  consideration by the 72nd session of the Nevada Legislature which

3-14  includes an assessment of any progress made to address the concerns noted

3-15  in the Participatory Democracy in Nevada report to the 71st session of the

3-16  Nevada Legislature and identifies specific steps that could be taken to

3-17  implement the recommendations therein; and be it further

3-18    Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

3-19  a copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Museums,

3-20  Library and Arts, the Secretary of State, the Nevada Association of

3-21  Counties, the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities and the Director

3-22  of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

3-23  H