H-1329              _______________________________________________

                                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Armstrong, Padden, Schmidt, West, Schoon, Locke, Scott, Lux, Rayburn and May

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on State Government.

WHEREAS, The bicentennial of the Constitutional Convention's adoption of the Constitution occurs on September 17, 1987; and

          WHEREAS, Nearly two hundred years ago, the people of the United States did ordain, establish, and eloquently manifest their ideals in the Constitution of the United States "...!sc ,1in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty..." to themselves and their prosperity; and

          WHEREAS, The United States Constitution established the federal system of government, balancing government between the national and state level, and the system of checks and balances embodied in the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; and

          WHEREAS, The United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights describe certain inalienable rights and guarantees of individual liberty; and

          WHEREAS, The state of Washington is also in the process of preparing to celebrate the centennial of the state Constitution in 1989 through the state centennial commission; and

          WHEREAS, The maintenance of the common principles that animate our republic depends upon a knowledge and understanding by all people of the roots and origins of our United States Constitution;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a state commission on the observance of the bicentennial of the United States Constitution will be established to promote public education concerning the bicentennial of the United States Constitution, to develop opportunities to explore the relationship between state and federal constitutions, and to secure the necessary recognition, support, and financial resources to ensure implementation of these educational programs state-wide; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission consist of seven members appointed by March 1, 1985, as follows:  The governor shall appoint three members; the chief justice of the supreme court of Washington shall nominate a member of the judiciary of the state of Washington for appointment by the governor; the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the house who possesses credentials in American history and the Constitution; the senate rules committee shall appoint one member who represents the major state-wide public education project on the bicentennial of the Constitution; and the president of the Washington state bar association with the consent of the board of governors, shall nominate a member from the legal community with a background in Constitutional law for appointment by the governor; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the superintendent of public instruction, the state centennial commission, the Washington commission for the humanities, and the association of community colleges for the state of Washington shall each nominate an individual to serve on the commission in an ex officio capacity after appointment by the governor.