PRINTER'S NO. 1158
No. 1012 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY CREIGHTON, ARMSTRONG, BASTIAN, BENNINGHOFF, DALEY,
ELLIS, FORCIER, GEIST, HERSHEY, LEH, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS,
READSHAW, ROHRER, STERN AND R. STEVENSON, MARCH 16, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 16, 2005
AN ACT
1 Providing for the display of the national motto "In God We
2 Trust" in classrooms and other areas in public school
3 buildings.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the National
8 Motto Display Act.
9 Section 2. Legislative findings.
10 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
11 (1) The motto "In God We Trust" is part of the history
12 and heritage of the United States. The nature of the
13 patriotic motto was borne by the blood of our nation's
14 forefathers who fought and died giving birth to our nation in
15 1776. The motto was further forged in the fire and smoke of
16 the Civil War. Recently, the motto has served as a rallying
17 cry for a nation reeling from the terrorist attacks of
18 September 11, 2001.
1 (2) The motto "In God We Trust" is featured on all
2 United States currency. This practice first occurred in April
3 of 1864 when Congress approved the use of the motto on United
4 States two-cent pieces. Since then, the motto has been
5 inscribed on most denominations of coins in an uninterrupted
6 period of time extending from the present back to 1916. In
7 1955, Congress passed a bill to have the motto placed on
8 paper currency and it first appeared on bills two years
9 later. Since 1957, the United States Bureau of Engraving and
10 Printing has gradually incorporated the motto in the design
11 on the reverse of all paper currency.
12 (3) In 1956, the United States Congress adopted the
13 motto "In God We Trust" as the national motto. It is
14 currently codified at 36 U.S.C. § 302 (relating to national
15 motto). On July 24, 2000, the United States House of
16 Representatives, along with the concurrence of the Senate,
17 unanimously resolved to encourage the display of the national
18 motto of the United States in public buildings throughout the
19 nation.
20 (4) A proper understanding of United States history and
21 government is essential to good citizenship. Public schools
22 are the primary public institutions charged with the
23 responsibility of assisting children and youth in gaining
24 that understanding. A proper understanding of United States
25 history and government includes study of historical documents
26 such as:
27 (i) The Declaration of Independence.
28 (ii) The Constitution of the United States.
29 (iii) The pledge of allegiance.
30 (iv) The national anthem.
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1 (v) The national motto.
2 (vi) The Mayflower Compact.
3 (vii) The writings, speeches, documents and
4 proclamations of the founders and United States
5 presidents.
6 (viii) Documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial,
7 Revolutionary, Federalist and post-Federalist eras.
8 (ix) United States Supreme Court decisions.
9 (5) To increase student understanding of and familiarity
10 with American historical documents, historically important
11 excerpts from or copies of such documents should be posted in
12 classrooms and other areas of public school buildings.
13 (6) The Federal 5th, 9th and 10th Circuit Courts have
14 ruled that displaying the national motto passes
15 constitutional muster so long as the purpose of the display
16 is to advance or endorse the national motto rather than a
17 particular religious belief or practice.
18 Section 3. Display of motto.
19 The board of directors of every public elementary and
20 secondary school in this Commonwealth may permit administrators
21 and teachers in each public school to prominently display the
22 motto "In God We Trust," which is declared in 36 U.S.C. § 302
23 (relating to national motto) to be the national motto of the
24 United States, in each classroom, school cafeteria and school
25 auditorium.
26 Section 4. Effective date.
27 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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