109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2136
To provide funds to help establish the William H. Rehnquist Center
on Constitutional Structures and Judicial Independence at the University
of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 16, 2005
Mr. MCCAIN (for himself and Mr. KYL) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To provide funds to help establish the William H. Rehnquist Center
on Constitutional Structures and Judicial Independence at the University
of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.
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 `William H. Rehnquist Center Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The late William H. Rehnquist, the 16th Chief Justice of the United
States, distinguished himself with one of the longest and most influential
tenures on the United States Supreme Court.
(2) The judicial branch of government, in Chief Justice Rehnquist's own
words, is `a vital and uniquely American institutional participant in
the everlasting search of civilized society for the proper balance between
liberty and authority, between the state and the individual.'.
(3) Among the principles that the Chief Justice held dearest were those
of constitutional federalism, judicial independence, and the separation
of powers. These principles are central to the Supreme Court's role in
the governance of our Nation.
(4) Because of the crucial nature of federalism, judicial independence,
and the separation of powers, the public would be well-served by a more
robust body of scholarship and broader education about these aspects of
American constitutional law.
(5) Honoring the legacy of Chief Justice Rehnquist and creating a forum
for greater scholarship and public education about the principles of federalism,
judicial independence, and the separation of powers would best be achieved
by establishing the William H. Rehnquist Center on Constitutional Structures
and Judicial Independence at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers
College of Law, which would advance non-partisan scholarship about the
judicial branch of government and create an academic center for discussions
about the judicial branch of government.
SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
In recognition of the contributions of the late William H. Rehnquist, Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme Court, to the democratic process of
governance, the Attorney General is authorized to make grants in accordance
with the provisions of this Act to assist in the establishment of the William
H. Rehnquist Center on Constitutional Structures and Judicial Independence
at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.
SEC. 4. APPLICATION.
No payment may be made under this Act except upon an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information
as the Attorney General may require.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the
provisions of this Act $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through
2011.
(b) Unobligated Amounts- Any amounts appropriated under subsection (a) that
are unexpended and unobligated after December 31, 2011, shall be covered
into the general fund of the Treasury.
END
