III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D 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, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. 

WICKER, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. CASEY, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. 

HIRONO, Mr. FETTERMAN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. COONS, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, 

Mr. TESTER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. KING, 

Mr. BROWN, Mr. WARNER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. REED, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. 

OSSOFF, Mr. WARNOCK, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PADILLA, 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BENNET, Mr. PETERS, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. MURPHY, and Mr. BOOKER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

MARCH 23 (legislative day, MARCH 22), 2024 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

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; 


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SRES 333 ATS 

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’’; 

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 


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SRES 333 ATS 

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.’’; 

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 enVerDate Sep 11 2014 08:19 Mar 23, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR333.ATS SR333

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SRES 333 ATS 

joyed 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’’; 

4 (2) encourages States and local governments to 

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

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

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

8 of the system of Government of the United States to 

9 a more free and stable world; and 

10 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

11 to observe the ‘‘Year of Democracy’’ with appro12 priate ceremonies and activities that— 

13 (A) provide appreciation for the system of 

14 Government of the United States; 

15 (B) demonstrate that the people of the 

16 United States shall never forget the sacrifices 

17 made by past generations of people of the 

18 United States to preserve the freedoms and 

19 principles of the United States; and 

20 (C) remind our citizens that those with dif21 fering political opinions are often their neigh22 bors, fellow religious congregants, and extended 


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1 family members with whom they share many 

2 life values and can respectfully disagree. 

Æ 


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