Virginia We the People General Assembly Endorsement

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 107
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 2010
Commending the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier.
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Patron-- Pogge
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WHEREAS, every year hundreds of teachers come to the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier to study the founding principles and constitutional ideals of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is the lifelong home of James Madison, the father of the Constitution and the architect of the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, James Madison was raised in Orange County, Virginia, and the Montpelier Foundation remains the keeper of his legacy; and

WHEREAS, the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier is the premier location for teachers to engage in constitutional studies; and

WHEREAS, every teacher who attends a Center for the Constitution program is introduced to We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum, which provides free professional development and over 8,000 free textbooks to elementary, middle, and high school teachers in Virginia each year; and

WHEREAS, the We the People curriculum is the country's most extensive program aimed at educating young people about the history and principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the responsibilities of citizenship; and

WHEREAS, the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier is the Virginia sponsor of the We the People program; and

WHEREAS, 2010 marks the 10th year that James Madison's Montpelier has served as the state sponsor of the We the People program; and

WHEREAS, teachers of all grade levels across Virginia may attend We the People seminars for free; and

WHEREAS, each year the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier hosts the Virginia We the People State Finals for students to compete on their knowledge of the principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier for building knowledgeable citizens on the principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and endorse the Virginia We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum as a premiere educational program on the Constitution for students in elementary, middle, and high school; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude to the organization for its commitment to preserving the history and culture of the Commonwealth and educating its citizens.