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'In God We Trust' Poster Campaign

Model Legislation - "The National Motto Display Act"

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IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ______________________

BILL NO. __________

An Act Providing for the Display of the National Motto in All Public Buildings



The General Assembly of the State of _________________ hereby enacts the following:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "National Motto Display Act."Section 2. Declaration of findings and purpose.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) The national motto of the United States of America is "In God We Trust";

(2) The national motto was adopted in 1956, and is codified at 36 U.S.C. section 302;

(3) The national motto is deeply interwoven into the fabric of our civil polity;

(4) The theme of the national motto is as old as the republic itself;

(5) The Founding Fathers believed devotedly that there was a God and that the unalienable rights of man were rooted in Him, as evidenced in their writings from the Mayflower Compact to the Constitution;

(6) The signers of the Declaration of Independence appealed to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of their intentions and avowed a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence for their cause;

(7) The national motto recognizes the historical fact that our nation was believed to have been founded "under God";

(8) The national motto appears prominently engraved in the wall above the speaker's dias in the chamber of the United States house of representatives, is displayed over the entrance to the United States senate chamber, and is reproduced on every coin minted and every dollar printed by the federal government;

(9) On July 24, 2000, the United States house of representatives, by unanimous consent, passed a resolution encouraging the display of the national motto in public buildings throughout the nation; and

(10) The purpose of this act is to foster patriotism, express confidence in the future, inculcate hope, instruct in humility, acknowledge the historical role of faith in our society, and encourage the recognition of what is worthy of appreciation in society.Section 3. Implementation of policy.

(a) The national motto shall be prominently and conspicuously displayed in all public buildings in this state into which the general public is invited.

(b) The national motto shall be prominently and conspicuously displayed in each classroom of the public schools in this state.Section 4. Size and construction of display.

(a) The national motto display shall be engraved on a plaque made of permanent, non-porous material such as wood, plastic, stone, metal plate, or framed in a glass or plastic-encased picture frame. The plaque shall be no smaller than 10" x 14". The engraving on the plaque shall be in the following form:

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

The National Motto of the United States of America


(b) Each letter in the phrase "IN GOD WE TRUST" shall be at least twice the height and width of the letters in the phrase "The Motto of the United States of America." The letters in each word of the latter phrase shall be at least two (2) inches high and one (1) inch wide.

The plaque shall be engraved in such manner as to be easily read from a distance of twenty (20) feet.Section 5. Time for compliance.

All state governmental agencies and political subdivisions shall comply with this act within 60 days of the effective date.Section 6. Right of action.

Any resident taxpayer may commence a civil action to compel compliance against any state governmental entity or political subdivision that willfully fails to comply with any provision of this act. In any such action, a court shall award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief, as well as costs of suit and reasonable attorneys' fees. Provided, however, that sixty (60) days prior to commencement of suit the chief executive of the governmental entity or political subdivision shall be notified by certified mail of its non-compliance with this act and, if non-compliance with the provisions of the act is cured within said sixty (60) day period, the governmental entity or political subdivision shall be deemed in compliance with this act.Section 7. Repeal.

All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with thes act.Section 8. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 30 days from the date of passage.

 		 
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