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Bill 401

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      401
Type of Legislation:              Senate Resolution SR
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20010301
Primary Sponsor:                  Fair
All Sponsors:                     Fair
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\swb\5197djc01.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20010306
Subject:                          Prayer, free exercise of religion and no 
                                  government policy should try to suppress; 
                                  Federal, State; General Assembly


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20010306  Adopted
------  20010302  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20010301  Introduced, placed on Calendar 
                  without reference


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on March 1, 2001 - Word format
Revised on March 2, 2001 - Word format

INTRODUCED

March 1, 2001

    S. 401

S. Printed 3/1/01--S.    [SEC 3/2/01 2:15 PM]

Read the first time March 1, 2001.

TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ANY GOVERNMENT POLICY OR ACTION TO SUPPRESS PRAYER IS TANTAMOUNT TO A LAW PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION AND COULD, THEREFORE, BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Whereas, in addition to providing that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States also provides that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; and

Whereas, the elected representatives of the people of South Carolina, other states of the United States, and in the Congress of the United States are privileged to begin each legislative day with prayer led by a chaplain and conducted in a public forum, all of which is paid for and maintained by public funds and the tax dollars of all of the citizens of this State, other states, and of the United States; and

Whereas, just as the elected representatives of the American people are privileged to begin the public business and their daily endeavors with prayer conducted in public buildings representing the seat of government and in forums where the business of government is conducted, so also the American people who elect these representatives are, and by right ought to be, free to enjoy the privileges practiced by their elected representatives by beginning their business and daily endeavors, whether public or private, whether on the public square, in public playgrounds and parks, in public buildings, or on private property with prayer and the free exercise of their religion. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate, by this resolution, express the sense of the Senate that any government policy or action to suppress prayer is tantamount to a law prohibiting the free exercise of religion and could, therefore, be unconstitutional.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the president of every state college and university in South Carolina.

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