Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Journals Published

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday comes from Article I.5.3: “The journal of each house shall be published from time to time.” This principle states that the people have the right to have a written record of the business conducted in Congress. A complete record of the proceedings of both the House and the Senate has been published on a daily basis in the Congressional Record since 1873.

Each day members of Congress are given an opportunity to read the complete transcript from the previous day and can make corrections and additions at that time. As in many other things, some members of Congress have taken advantage of this courtesy and have actually changed their remarks to say something different than what they actually said. These members of Congress have damaged the reputation of the Congressional Record.

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