SLS 17RS-1403 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 94
BY SENATORS WARD AND CARTER
LEGISLATORS. Affirms the need for civility in political debate as a fundamental
requirement for effective representative democracy and governing.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To affirm the need for civility in political debate as a fundamental requirement for effective
3 representative democracy and governing.
4 WHEREAS, representative democracy in the United States of America presents to
5 the world an ongoing experiment as to whether such form of government can be viable,
6 lasting, and most effective over all other forms of government in best serving the needs of
7 its people; and
8 WHEREAS, a representative democracy is only as good as those whom we elect to
9 represent us, and the resulting laws and policies made by them to which we are subject; and
10 WHEREAS, a fundamental cornerstone of effective representative democracy and
11 governing is productive communication between the people and their representatives, and
12 among the elected representatives themselves; and
13 WHEREAS, another fundamental cornerstone of effective representative democracy
14 and governing is the participation by those with differing viewpoints in public political
15 discourse and debate through the robust exchange of ideas; and
16 WHEREAS, such robust exchange of ideas in public political discourse and debate
17 is an essential component of our political freedom; and
18 WHEREAS, civility in public political discourse and debate promotes understanding,
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SLS 17RS-1403 ORIGINAL
1 unity, mutual respect, informed decision making, reflection, and considerations in the spirit
2 of community for compromise and consensus in the greater good; and
3 WHEREAS, civility in public political discourse and debate further enhances
4 confidence in our institutions of government, and in the ability of our elected representatives
5 to govern effectively at the federal, state, and local levels; and
6 WHEREAS, through civility in public political discourse and debate our elected
7 representatives and the public can engage in productive dialogue with each other and among
8 themselves without compromise of core principles or loss of collegiality; and
9 WHEREAS, civility in public political discourse and debate results from adherence
10 to simple principles, including the following: be inclusive and show respect; listen and pay
11 attention to the words of others; take responsibility for your own words and actions,
12 including apologizing for them when appropriate; strive to be informed, tolerant, and
13 agreeable; in your language seek unity through compromise and consensus rather than
14 fostering division through anger, invective, and harsh rhetoric; and refrain from
15 disparagement of others and from criticism that is not constructive; and
16 WHEREAS, through civility in their public political discourse and debate, elected
17 representatives demonstrate statesmanship in their interactions and inspire others to act
18 likewise; and
19 WHEREAS, through civility in their public political discourse and debate, elected
20 representatives foster a spirt of mutual understanding that enhances cooperation and
21 consensus, restores public trust, and leads to more efficient and effective government; and
22 WHEREAS, by authoring this Resolution the members of the Legislature of
23 Louisiana affirm that by so doing they endorse the essential need for civility in public
24 political discourse and debate, and further that they commit to such civility in their own
25 actions and debate and to seeking others to act likewise.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27 affirm the need for civility in political debate as a fundamental requirement for effective
28 representative democracy and governing.
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SLS 17RS-1403 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry G. Jones
DIGEST
SCR 94 Original 2017 Regular Session Ward
Affirms the need for civility in political debate as a fundamental requirement for effective
representative democracy and governing.
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