SR5: Resolution Text

LRB-4466/2

PJD:cjs:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate RESOLUTION 5

March 23, 2000 - Introduced by Senator Grobschmidt. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

SR5,1,1 Relating to: proclaiming September as "Citizenship Month".

SR5,1,4 Whereas, the American experiment of representative, self-governing democracy can only function effectively with the consent and participation of an enlightened, competent and responsible citizenry; and

SR5,1,7 Whereas, the various levels of governing — local, state, federal — must be understood by citizens if they are to communicate their views and ideas to representatives to shape and implement public policy; and

SR5,1,10 Whereas, overwhelming evidence exists that citizens have low opinions about the work of state legislatures and have relatively little knowledge about what their representatives do; and

SR5,1,12 Whereas, civic education is essential for citizens to develop a common language and understanding of politics and governing; and

SR5,2,2 Whereas, civic education is an important tool to develop the habits of civic virtue including civility, individual responsibility, self-discipline, open-mindedness, compromise, tolerance of others, patience, persistence, compassion, generosity and loyalty to one's nation and community; and

SR5,2,4 Whereas, civic education is most effective when the principles that sustain representative democracy are instilled at an early age; and

SR5,2,10 Whereas, civic education programs in school classes, such as We the People... Project Citizen for middle school classes, are effective, successful tools for teaching young citizens how to address state and local community public policy issues by identifying a public policy problem in their community, gathering and evaluating information on the problem, examining and evaluating solutions, selecting or developing a proposed public policy and developing an action plan; and

SR5,2,13 Whereas, classes participating in such programs learn that government and public service cannot just be observed, but must be experienced with hands-on action and communication; and

SR5,2,15 Whereas, participation in such programs involves numerous segments of the community in teaching students about the legislative process; and

SR5,2,17 Whereas, the federal government has proclaimed September 17 as Citizenship Day, and the week of September 17 is Constitution Week; now, therefore, be it

SR5,2,20 Resolved by the senate, That civic education programs are ideal tools to teach students about the reality and promise of citizenship in a representative democracy; and, be it further

SR5,2,21 Resolved, That September is proclaimed "Citizenship Month" in Wisconsin.

SR5,2,22 (End)