IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 962 
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the sovereignty of the Principality 
of Liechtenstein, and expressing the support for efforts by the United 
States to continue to strengthen its relationship with that country. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2006 
Mr. STEARNS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the sovereignty of the 
Principality of Liechtenstein, and expressing the support 
for efforts by the United States to continue to strengthen 
its relationship with that country. 
Whereas Liechtenstein is nestled between Switzerland and 
Austria in the Upper Rhine valley of the European Alps, 
and is one of only two landlocked countries in the world 
surrounded by other landlocked countries; 
Whereas Liechtenstein has approximately 35,000 inhabitants, 
primarily Roman Catholics of German ethnicity; 
Whereas the modern country of Liechtenstein once formed 
part of the ancient Roman province of Rhaetia; 
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Whereas, in 1806, Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Em-
pire, and Liechtenstein became a sovereign country for 
the first time; 
Whereas after World War II, Liechtenstein’s advantageously 
low corporate tax rates drew many companies to the 
country; 
Whereas Liechtenstein is a constitutional hereditary mon-
archy on a democratic and parliamentary basis, headed 
by its ruling Prince, called ‘‘Fu¨rst’’; 
Whereas the parliament of Liechtenstein, the ‘‘Landtag’’, 
consists of 25 representatives, elected for four year terms 
by proportional representation in two multi-seat constitu-
encies, ten representing the lowland area and 15 rep-
resenting the highland area; 
Whereas Liechtenstein maintains a strong system of checks 
and balances between the legislative, executive, and judi-
cial branches of government; 
Whereas Liechtenstein’s system vests significant power within 
the monarchy, bolstered by a popular referendum in 
March 2004 where 64 percent supported the Prince’s 
powers; 
Whereas Liechtenstein achieved female suffrage on July 1, 
1984, voting in a referendum to grant women the right 
to vote in national elections; 
Whereas, in just the last 60 years, Liechtenstein developed 
from a mainly agrarian country to one of the most highly 
industrialized countries in the world; 
Whereas despite its small geographic area and limited natural 
resources, Liechtenstein has a prosperous, highly indus-
trialized, free-enterprise economy, and boasts a surpris-
ingly strong financial service sector; 
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Whereas low business and income taxes, as well as relatively 
simple rules of incorporation and a tradition of strict 
bank secrecy, have induced about 70,000 holding compa-
nies to set up offices in Liechtenstein; 
Whereas, since 1999, the United States has been the most 
important export market for members of the Liech-
tenstein Chamber of Commerce and Industry, totaling 
$561 million; 
Whereas since the signing of a customs treaty in 1923, 
Liechtenstein and Switzerland have represented one mu-
tual economic area; 
Whereas Liechtenstein also uses the Swiss franc as its na-
tional currency, and Swiss customs officers secure 
Liechtenstein’s border with Austria; 
Whereas Liechtenstein has been a member of the European 
Economic Area since May 1995 and is working to har-
monize its economic policies more closely with the Euro-
pean Union; 
Whereas Liechtenstein abolished its military in 1868 and has 
exercised neutrality in its foreign affairs; and 
Whereas Liechtenstein is an active member in international 
organizations such as the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, the World Trade Organization, 
the International Court of Justice, and the United Na-
tions: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 200th anniversary of the sov-
ereignty of the Principality of Liechtenstein; and 
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(2) expresses its support for efforts by the 
United States to continue to strengthen its relation-
ship with that country. 
Æ 
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