109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4865
To require every Senator and Representative in, and Delegate and
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress to obtain copies of the Constitution
of the United States of America and distribute them to their staff and require
that they all read such document.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 2, 2006
Mr. CONAWAY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on House Administration
A BILL
To require every Senator and Representative in, and Delegate and
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress to obtain copies of the Constitution
of the United States of America and distribute them to their staff and require
that they all read such document.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `AMERICA Act of 2006: A Modest Effort to Read
and Instill the Constitution Again'.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that since we, as Members of Congress, swear
to uphold the Constitution of the United States, write laws regarding the
powers granted to the Government, and propose constitutional amendments,
we should be required to read this important document including its amendments.
SEC. 3. DISTRIBUTION AND READING OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and during each session
of Congress thereafter, every Member of Congress shall obtain copies of
the Constitution of the United States of America, including all amendments
thereto, read such document, and distribute such document to their personal,
committee, and subcommittee staff and require that each such staffer read
such document in its entirety at least once during each session of Congress
in which they serve or are so employed after such date.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Every Member of Congress and their personal, committee, and subcommittee
staff are required to report in writing to the Committee on House Administration
of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration
of the Senate, as applicable, the date on which they complete their annual
reading of the Constitution. Each such committee shall publish on its website
the list of the Members of its body who have satisfied their requirement.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
As used in this Act, the term `Member of Congress' refers to a Senator or
Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
END
