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HJRES 297 101th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Christianity Constitutional amendments Evolution Judaism Prayer in the public schools Religion

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the right of the people to allow voluntary prayer and the teaching of the Judeo-Christian ethic in public schools.

Introduced: June 15, 1989 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 20, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Jun 15, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 15, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the right of the people to allow voluntary prayer and the teaching of the Judeo-Christian ethic, including the Ten Commandments and the creation of the earth as accepted in Judeo-Christian tradition, in public schools shall not be denied or abridged by the United States.

States that this Amendment does not: (1) force the people to enact any statute against their will; (2) constitute the establishment of a religion; or (3) permit any governmental or administrative authority to prescribe the form or content of any voluntary prayer.

What's happening now June 20, 1989

Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jun 15, 1989
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 297: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the right of the people to allow voluntary prayer and the teaching of the Judeo-Christian ethic in public schools.. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HJRES-297/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 297: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the right of the people to allow voluntary prayer and the teaching of the Judeo-Christian ethic in public schools.." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HJRES-297/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 297, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HJRES-297/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 297: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the right of the people to allow voluntary prayer and the teaching of the Judeo-Christian ethic in public schools.](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HJRES-297/)
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