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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/25/2024 03:41 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20210&cosponId=35443
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 21, 2021 09:27 AM
From: Senator Cris Dush
To: All Senate members
Subject: Displaying the Preamble of the Constitution of Pennsylvania in Schools
 
Constitutional republics are unique in world history. While other forms of government have relied on the use of force for a dictator, monarch or totalitarian organization to make subjects of the people, constitutional republics rely on a written declaration of The People as to what form of government they will accept.

In Federalist No. 53, James Madison explained “The important distinction so well understood in America, between a Constitution established by the people, and unalterable by the government, and a law established by the Government and alterable by the government, seems to have been little understood and less observed in any other country. Wherever the supreme power of legislation has resided, has been supposed to reside also a full power to change the form of the government.”

Unfortunately, we are no longer at a point where the distinction is understood by the people.

Soon, I will be introducing legislation which will require posting of the preamble to the Pennsylvania Constitution (“WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”) in the entrance of every school building where state funding is provided to the district or institution of higher education.

This declaration is foundational to the form of government “the people” chose to write, administer and interpret the law while reserving to themselves the "supreme power" to "change the form of government" through our Constitutions.

May this be a daily reminder to students preparing to take their place in this republic, of the power and responsibility they will assume. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.