III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 483 

Recognizing the first weekend of May 2008 as ‘‘Ten Commandments 

Weekend’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 13, 2008 

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. LIEBERMAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the first weekend of May 2008 as ‘‘Ten 

Commandments Weekend’’. 

Whereas the Ten Commandments are precepts foundational 

to the faith of millions of Americans; 

Whereas the Ten Commandments are a declaration of fundamental principles for a fair and just society; 

Whereas, from the founding of the United States, the Ten 

Commandments have been part of America’s basic cultural fabric; 

Whereas the national hero and first President, George Washington, proclaimed in his first inaugural address in 1789: 

‘‘[I]t would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first 

official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty 

Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the 


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•SRES 483 IS 

councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and the happiness of the people 

of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every 

instrument employed in its administration to execute with 

success the functions allotted to his charge.’’; 

Whereas one of the great leaders of the United States, President John Quincy Adams, declared in a letter to his son, 

‘‘The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal as 

well as a moral and religious code . . . [many] were of 

universal application—laws essential to the existence of 

men in society, and most of which have been enacted by 

every nation, which ever professed any code of laws.’’; 

Whereas President Harry S. Truman affirmed, ‘‘The fundamental basis of this Nation’s law was given to Moses on 

the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights 

comes from the teachings which we get from Exodus and 

St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don’t think we 

emphasize that enough these days. If we don’t have the 

proper fundamental moral background, we will finally 

wind up with a totalitarian government which does not 

believe in rights for anybody except the state.’’; 

Whereas, in addition to being understood as an elemental 

source for American law, the Ten Commandments have 

become a recognized symbol of law in our Nation’s culture; 

Whereas a marble relief portrait of Moses, the Hebrew prophet and bearer of the Ten Commandments, is located 

prominently in the United States Capitol over the gallery 

doors of the chamber of the House of Representatives in 


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•SRES 483 IS 

honor of his work in establishing the principles that underlie American law; 

Whereas images of the Ten Commandments are prominently 

displayed in many Federal buildings, including the 

United States Supreme Court, the National Archives, and 

the Library of Congress; and 

Whereas the first weekends of May in 2006 and 2007 were 

celebrated by many Americans as ‘‘Ten Commandments 

Weekend’’ in recognition of the importance of the Ten 

Commandments in their faith and the history and culture 

of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the first weekend of May 2008 as 

3 ‘‘Ten Commandments Weekend’’; 

4 (2) celebrates the Ten Commandments as a sig5 nificant aspect of the national life of the United 

6 States; and 

7 (3) encourages citizens of the United States to 

8 reflect on the integral role that the Ten Command9 ments have played in the life of the Nation. 

Æ 


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