HB197: Virginia history and United States Constitution; supplementary written materials on documents.

HOUSE BILL NO. 197

Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled December 26, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-201 of the Code of Virginia, relating to supplementary written materials on documents of Virginia history and the United States Constitution.
Patron-- Landes

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-201 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-201. Study of documents of Virginia history and United States Constitution.

To increase knowledge of citizens' rights and responsibilities thereunder and to enhance the understanding of Virginia's unique role in the history of the United States, the Declaration of American Independence, the general principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, the charters of the Virginia Company of April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1612, of The Virginia Company, and the Virginia Declaration of Rights shall be thoroughly explained and taught by teachers to pupils in public elementary, middle, and high schools. Emphasis shall be given to the relationship between these documents and Virginia history, and to citizenship responsibilities inherent in the rights included in these documents. Each teacher shall ensure that all supplementary written materials that he uses to teach these documents contain accurate restatements of the principles contained in such documents. Written examinations as to each of such documents shall be given.

2. That the Department of Education shall develop guidelines for supplementary written materials that teachers use to teach the Declaration of American Independence, the general principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, the charters of the Virginia Company of April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1612, and the Virginia Declaration of Rights.