Utah Sen. marks 227th anniversary of signing of nation’s guiding document

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a current member and former Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Wednesday issued the following statement commemorating Constitution Day, which is celebrated every Sept. 17 in recognition of the signing of the United States Constitution:

Our Constitution limits government in order to preserve freedom.  It makes each branch the equal of the others and the states the equals of Washington, D.C. It provides a check on all government action. It divides power among multiple sources because no one individual or office can be trusted with all authority. And it requires cooperation at all levels and all stages to ensure that changes in law are thoroughly vetted rather than rammed through by temporary majorities. These are the principles that should guide us as we seek solutions to our Nation’s challenges.

On this Constitution Day, I call on all branches of government to pay greater heed to the Constitution’s lessons. Fidelity to the Constitution is about much more than narrow legal doctrines; it involves looking to the principles that undergird the Constitution — values like individual liberty, separation of powers, federalism, respect for civil society, and democratic accountability — in determining whether a given course of action is wise.

James Madison called the Constitution a miracle. He was absolutely right. The Constitution is a miracle because it has endured for over two hundred years.  It is a miracle because of what it teaches about prudent government and the need to guard against human failings. It is a miracle because the lessons it provides are just as relevant today as they were 227 years ago. May we ever look to the Constitution for guidance and pay it increased fidelity as we discharge our duties here in Washington and across this great land.

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3 Comments

  • Bobber September 17, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    No coincidence that Orrin will also be turning 227 years old…

  • Fred September 17, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Next time Hatch or one of his colleagues chooses to let said document actually guide anything, please wake me up.

  • Don September 18, 2014 at 7:57 am

    When Congress actually exercises its power to act as an equalizing power to put Obama in check, I’ll be out dancing in the street. In the meantime, I can only hope that this old fossil will do the right thing by resigning from the Senate. What an arrogant, pompous and ineffective person he is, yet the proud (and obviously ignorant) folks of Utah’s “predominant party” keep electing him. What a joke!

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