SENATE MEMORIAL 70

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

A MEMORIAL

PROCLAIMING MARCH 6, 2013 "WE THE PEOPLE DAY" IN THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the center for civic education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries; and

     WHEREAS, the center specializes in civics and citizenship education, law-related education and international educational exchange programs for developing democracies; and

     WHEREAS, the center administers the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" instructional program that complements the regular social studies and language arts curricula in upper elementary, middle and high schools; and

     WHEREAS, the We the People program is funded by the United States department of education under the federal Education for Democracy Act; and

     WHEREAS, the We the People program, through critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities and cooperative learning techniques, enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy while students discover the contemporary relevance of the United States constitution and bill of rights; and

     WHEREAS, the program's culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students testify before a panel of judges and students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues; and

     WHEREAS, simulated congressional hearings are held on both a competitive and noncompetitive basis in participating schools, with high school competition occurring first at the congressional district level, then statewide and state champions competing in the We the People finals in Washington, D.C.; and

     WHEREAS, since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, more than twenty-eight million students and ninety thousand educators have participated in this innovative course of study, and approximately one thousand two hundred high school students and their teachers participate annually in the We the People national finals; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, New Mexico teams have been among the top ten finalists at the We the People national finals several times, placing fourth on one occasion, and this year, Moriarty high school represents New Mexico at the twenty-sixth annual We the People national finals to be held on April 26-29; and

     WHEREAS, We the People companion programs actively engage students in the study of public policymaking and the prevention of bullying and violence in school; and

     WHEREAS, the educational testing service and independent researchers have found that the We the People program is a "great educational success", whose students "significantly outperformed comparison students on every topic of the tests taken", developed greater commitment to democratic principles and values than students in comparison groups and became energized about their place as citizens of the United States;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 6, 2013 be declared "We the People Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation, the secretary of public education, the We the People team at Moriarty high school and the New Mexico center for democracy and civic education.

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