Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 38–Committee on
Constitutional Amendments

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

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.

 

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

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

 that “government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the

 people”; and

   Whereas, The Nevada Legislature acknowledged these provisions in

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

 1995, which encouraged public officers and employees, state agencies,

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

 programs to increase the participation of the residents of this state in the

 development of public policy and to improve the operation of government

 at all levels; and

   Whereas, In 1997, the Nevada Legislature enacted legislation which

 authorized the creation of the Advisory Committee on Participatory

 Democracy by the Director of the Department of Museums, Library and

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

 the Nevada Legislature; and

   Whereas, The Department of Museums, Library and Arts has filed

 with the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature a report entitled

 Participatory Democracy in Nevada; and

   Whereas, The Nevada Legislature has considered that report and has

 determined that the recommendations contained therein deserve broader

 recognition and consideration by public officers and agencies, local

 governments, organizations and the residents of Nevada; now, therefore,

 be it

   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

 Concurring, That the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall:

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

 with the report entitled Participatory Democracy in Nevada filed with the

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

 each city and county government, the board of trustees of each school

 district, the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of the

 University of Nevada, the Nevada Supreme Court, and any other public

 officers or employees, organizations, associations and residents of this

 state who request a copy.

   2.  Encourage those officers, organizations, associations and other

 persons to cooperate in developing new ideas and programs to increase the

 quality and extent of participatory democracy in Nevada, including the

 enhancement of citizen participation in elections; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Director of the Department of Museums, Library

 and Arts is hereby urged to amend the current regulations establishing the

 Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy by extending the

 existence of the Committee beyond its scheduled expiration on

 

December 31, 2002, and by adding the Secretary of State or his designee as

a member of the committee; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby acknowledges that a

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

 values of citizenship should be the provision of meaningful and relevant

 instruction and guidance in developing the intellectual and participatory

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

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

 further

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

 assess whether adequate resources are available to support the programs

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

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

 each school district, the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of

 the University of Nevada, the Governor, the Legislature or the Director of

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

 created by NRS 378.400 or the Advisory Committee on Participatory

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

 be it further

   Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature strongly endorses continued

 support and expansion of existing programs which motivate students to

 learn more about our democratic system of government, including

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

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

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

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

 administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the United

 States Department of Education, “Kids Voting Nevada,” currently active

 in Clark County, the high school mock trial competitions and other

 educational programs relating to the law that are supported by the State

 Bar of Nevada and “CIVITAS,” an international teacher exchange

 program administered by the Center for Civic Education; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature urges the Nevada Association

 of Counties and the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities to expand

 upon their “Award of Excellence in Participatory Democracy” and

 innovation in government programs and to work with the Department of

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

 378.400 to maintain a record of all successful programs of local

 governments in Nevada which involve citizens in the development of

 public policy and the improvement of the operations of government; and

 be it further

   Resolved, That the Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy

 and the Director of the Department of Museums, Library and Arts,

 working in cooperation with the Legislative Counsel Bureau, prepare a

 report for consideration by the 72nd session of the Nevada Legislature

 which includes an assessment of any progress made to address the

 concerns noted in the Participatory Democracy in Nevada report to the

 71st session of the Nevada Legislature and identifies specific steps that

 could be taken to implement the recommendations therein; and be it

 further

   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

a copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Museums,

 Library and Arts, the Secretary of State, the Nevada Association of

 Counties, the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities and the Director

 of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

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