PRINTER'S NO. 3840
No. 769 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY RAMALEY, GOODMAN, O'NEILL, GIBBONS, BIANCUCCI, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, CONKLIN, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARPER, HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, McCALL, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MILLARD, MOUL, MOYER, MURT, MUSTIO, NAILOR, PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRONE, PHILLIPS, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, R. STEVENSON, SWANGER, J. TAYLOR, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, GERGELY, STURLA, FABRIZIO, MANDERINO AND D. O'BRIEN, JUNE 4, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 4, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Recognizing the Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State 2 (KBS) program to be held during the week of June 22 through 3 28, 2008, at Shippensburg University for its contributions to 4 the development of the citizenship skills and understanding 5 of promising young Pennsylvanians and to strengthening the 6 future of our American form of government. 7 WHEREAS, The KBS program, established in 1937, is an 8 educational workshop for high school student leaders, such as 9 student government officers, athletic team captains and 10 prominent student organization officers; and 11 WHEREAS, The purpose of KBS is to teach the youths of today 12 constructive attitudes toward the American form of government; 13 and
1 WHEREAS, High school students in their junior year are 2 selected for participation in this program based upon their 3 having displayed leadership qualities and high moral character 4 and maintaining high scholastic standing; and 5 WHEREAS, Students selected to attend KBS will have the 6 opportunity to gain leadership skills through a variety of 7 activities and presentations during the weeklong program; and 8 WHEREAS, KBS is a practical school of government conducted on 9 an "education by participation" basis, the hallmark and focus of 10 which is its experientially based government exercise whereby 11 citizens take on roles and practice the procedures and 12 operations in the organization and operation of a mock city, 13 county and State government; and 14 WHEREAS, The hands-on format at KBS has the youthful citizens 15 forming and operating two fictitious political parties, 16 conducting all State and local law enforcement and judicial 17 systems and forming and conducting a bicameral State 18 legislature; and 19 WHEREAS, The effort to get everyone involved manifests itself 20 by having every "citizen" elected, selected, assigned or 21 appointed to leadership positions throughout the week; and 22 WHEREAS, The practical exercises and program, even 23 intramurals, are aimed at developing a more active and 24 intelligent interest in the duties, privileges, rights and 25 responsibilities of citizenship; and 26 WHEREAS, KBS enables each "citizen" to grasp the meaning of 27 some of the responsibilities he will be called upon to assume 28 when he becomes an adult: the student learns the part citizens 29 must play under our system of government, in that each can run 30 for office, vote for a candidate of choice and have a voice and 20080H0769R3840 - 2 -
1 a part in shaping the policies of government; and 2 WHEREAS, From this practical school of government, the young 3 citizen has the opportunity to practice democracy in action for 4 himself and learn that each person has a role to play within our 5 system of government and that his government is just what he 6 makes of it; and 7 WHEREAS, This program shows the resiliency of our great 8 republic, which needs an intelligent citizenry and an honest and 9 impartial administration that is responsive to the will of the 10 people; therefore be it 11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the 12 Pennsylvania American Legion KBS program to be held June 22 13 through 28, 2008, and congratulate the American Legion for its 14 contributions over the past 71 years in supporting and promoting 15 the leadership skills of promising young Pennsylvanians and 16 enhancing their understanding of our American form of government 17 through practical teaching and personal involvement. D29L82BIL/20080H0769R3840 - 3 -