[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 16 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 16

    Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
   restoring the right of Americans to pray in public institutions, 
   including public school graduation ceremonies and athletic events.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 21 (legislative day, January 5), 1993

  Mr. Helms introduced the following joint resolution; which was read 
          twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
    Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
   restoring the right of Americans to pray in public institutions, 
   including public school graduation ceremonies and athletic events.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House 
concurring therein), That the following article is hereby proposed as 
an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution if 
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States 
within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the 
Congress:

                              ``Article--

    ``Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit 
voluntary individual or group prayer in public schools or other public 
institutions, or to prohibit prayer at public school baccalaureate 
services, athletic events, or other extracurricular activities. No 
person shall be required by the United States or by any State to 
participate in prayer or to be present during any prayer. Neither the 
United States nor any State shall compose the words of any prayer to be 
said in public schools or other public institutions, or at events 
sponsored by public schools or other public institutions.''.

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