MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2006 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Reed

House Bill 1380

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OR A SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION TO BE DISPLAYED IN ALL PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  The Constitution of the United States of America or an appropriate summary of the Constitution must be displayed prominently in each grade in the secondary school or schools in each public school district in the State of Mississippi.  Any summary of the Constitution of the United States which is displayed in lieu of the Constitution’s entire text must include, printed in their entirety, the Preamble to the Constitution, the first ten (10) amendments (which comprise the Bill of Rights) and Amendments XI, XIII, XV, XIX, XXIV and XXVI.  The articles or any part of the articles and all other amendments may be summarized.  Any summary of the Constitution displayed in lieu of the Constitution’s entire text must be approved by the State Superintendent of Public Education.

     It is the responsibility of the school board of each school district to provide for a sufficient number of copies of the Constitution or an appropriate summary of the Constitution and to ensure their proper display in each secondary school in that district.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.