IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 527 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Tunisia’s 
peaceful Jasmine Revolution. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 25, 2012 
Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. DREIER, Mr. CARNAHAN, and 
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
regarding Tunisia’s peaceful Jasmine Revolution. 
Whereas, on January 14, 2011, a peaceful mass protest 
movement in Tunisia successfully brought to an end the 
authoritarian rule of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali; 
Whereas Tunisia’s peaceful ‘‘Jasmine Revolution’’ was the 
first of several movements throughout the Middle East 
and North Africa and inspired democracy and human 
rights activists throughout the region and around the 
world; 
Whereas Tunisia, in the wake of Ben Ali’s resignation, began 
a transition to democracy that has been broadly inclusive, 
consensus-based, and civilian-led; 
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•HRES 527 IH 
Whereas, on October 23, 2011, Tunisia conducted the first 
competitive, multi-party democratic election of the Arab 
Spring, which involved dozens of political parties and 
hundreds of independent candidates competing for a 217- 
member National Constituent Assembly; 
Whereas more than 50 percent of all eligible voters and near-
ly 90 percent of registered voters participated in the Oc-
tober 23 election; 
Whereas Tunisia’s Independent Electoral Commission wel-
comed and accredited a robust domestic and international 
election observer presence, including 3 independent dele-
gations from the United States; 
Whereas election observers have broadly praised the October 
23 election as free, fair, and consistent with international 
standards; 
Whereas roughly 25 percent of the seat in the National Con-
stituent Assembly were won by women; 
Whereas the newly elected National Constituent Assembly is 
tasked with drafting a new constitution to guide 
Tunisia’s transition towards a representative democracy 
that reflects the aspirations of the Tunisian people; 
Whereas the Jasmine Revolution was largely a reaction to 
long-accumulated economic grievances, ongoing high un-
employment and poor economic conditions sustain the po-
tential to drive future political protestations; 
Whereas the United States and Tunisia have enjoyed friendly 
relations for more than 200 years; and 
Whereas the United States was among the first countries to 
recognize Tunisian independence in 1956: Now, there-
fore, be it 
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•HRES 527 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates the people of Tunisia for 
holding, on October 23, 2011, the first competitive, 
multi-party democratic elections since the outbreak 
of popular revolutions throughout the Middle East 
and North Africa in 2011; 
(2) commends the Tunisian independent elec-
toral commission for— 
(A) successfully conducting a free, fair, 
transparent, and credible election on October 
23, 2011; and 
(B) welcoming independent international 
and domestic election observers and granting 
them unrestricted access to polling and count-
ing stations; 
(3) congratulates all newly elected members, 
and the parties with which they are affiliated, of the 
National Democratic Constituent Assembly; 
(4) affirms the national interest of the United 
States in a successful and irreversible transition to 
democracy in Tunisia, including— 
(A) respect for the rule of law; 
(B) independent media; 
(C) a vibrant civil society; and 
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•HRES 527 IH 
(D) universal rights and freedoms, includ-
ing equal rights for all citizens, freedom of 
speech, and human rights; 
(5) affirms the national interest of the United 
States in Tunisia’s economic prosperity and develop-
ment, including through increased foreign direct in-
vestment, tourism, entrepreneurship, technical co-
operation, and strengthened trade ties; 
(6) urges increased United States engagement 
and cooperation with the Tunisian government and 
people, including— 
(A) Tunisia’s democratic institutions; 
(B) civil society; 
(C) schools and universities; 
(D) independent media; and 
(E) the private sector; and 
(7) reaffirms the unwavering friendship between 
the people of the United States and the people of 
Tunisia. 
Æ 
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