III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 333 

Designating 2024 as the Year of Democracy as a time to reflect on the 

contributions of the system of Government of the United States to 

a more free and stable world. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. GRASSLEY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating 2024 as the Year of Democracy as a time to 

reflect on the contributions of the system of Government 

of the United States to a more free and stable world. 

Whereas 2,000 years after the ancient Greeks laid the 

groundwork for democracy, the founders of the United 

States built an even greater system of Government, a 

democratic republic, propelling the United States to become the most advanced nation in human history; 

Whereas the model of Government of the United States has 

been reproduced around the world; 

Whereas Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, respectively, described democracy as the ‘‘light that led us out 

of gothic darkness’’ and humankind’s ‘‘last best hope’’; 


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•SRES 333 IS 

Whereas recent life-threatening and life-altering attacks and 

threats against political figures and public servants speak 

loudly to the necessity of maintaining mutual respect and 

civility for the right of an opponent to advocate for or oppose policies; 

Whereas the ardent pursuit of one’s policies is not diminished 

whatsoever by the exercise of respect and civility that 

assures the maintenance of our democracy and freedoms; 

Whereas President John F. Kennedy said, we ‘‘must remember on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness’’; 

Whereas, according to the 2022 Freedom House report, only 

about 20 percent of the global population now live in 

‘‘free’’ countries; 

Whereas the Constitution of the United States and the Bill 

of Rights, including the addition of the Reconstruction 

Era amendments, enshrine the rights and civil liberties of 

the citizens of the United States, including the right to 

vote in free and fair elections; 

Whereas the perpetuation of the ideals of democracy does not 

happen on its own and can be stalled or reversed; 

Whereas surveys show citizens of the United States are losing 

faith in the democratic system; 

Whereas former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said, ‘‘The practice of democracy is not passed down 

through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned 

anew by each generation of citizens.’’; 

Whereas President Ronald Reagan said, ‘‘Democracy is worth 

dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of 

government ever devised by man.’’; 


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•SRES 333 IS 

Whereas Congressman John R. Lewis said in his final words 

to the United States, ‘‘Democracy is not a state. It is an 

act, and each generation must do its part to help build 

what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and 

world society at peace with itself.’’; 

Whereas World War II demonstrated the fragility of democracy and the civilized life that accompanies democracy; 

Whereas British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed 

that, ‘‘Indeed it has been said that democracy is the 

worst form of Government except for all those other 

forms that have been tried from time to time . . .’’; 

Whereas President George Washington said the United 

States must recognize the immense value of the National 

Union and work towards preservation of that Union with 

‘‘jealous anxiety’’ and wrote that the security of a free 

Constitution may be accomplished by ‘‘teaching the people themselves to know and to value their own rights’’; 

Whereas President Thomas Jefferson wrote, ‘‘Educate and 

inform the whole mass of the people . . . They are the 

only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.’’; 

and 

Whereas the Government of the United States must teach 

and educate the people by taking appropriate actions to 

highlight and emphasize the importance of democratic 

principles and civility in the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the people of the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates 2024 as the ‘‘Year of Democ3 racy’’; 


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•SRES 333 IS 

1 (2) encourages States and local governments to 

2 designate 2024 as the ‘‘Year of Democracy’’; 

3 (3) recognizes the celebration of the ‘‘Year of 

4 Democracy’’ as a time to reflect on the contributions 

5 of the system of Government of the United States to 

6 a more free and stable world; and 

7 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to observe the ‘‘Year of Democracy’’ with appro9 priate ceremonies and activities that— 

10 (A) provide appreciation for the system of 

11 Government of the United States; 

12 (B) demonstrate that the people of the 

13 United States shall never forget the sacrifices 

14 made by past generations of people of the 

15 United States to preserve the freedoms and 

16 principles of the United States; and 

17 (C) remind our citizens that those with dif18 fering political opinions are often their neigh19 bors, fellow religious congregants, and extended 

20 family members with whom they share many 

21 life values and can respectfully disagree. 

Æ 


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