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HR 4154 105th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Church and state Government Operations and Politics Government property Religion Religious liberty States' rights

Ten Commandments Defense Act

Introduced: June 25, 1998 Introduced by: Aderholt, Robert B. Republican · Alabama See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) 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
Jul 7, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jun 25, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 25, 1998
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ten Commandments Defense Act - Declares reserved to the States the power to display the Ten Commandments on State or local government property.

Declares that expressions of religious faith by individual persons upon State property are: (1) protected against Federal laws or regulations respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion; and (2) among those liberties of which no State may deprive any person without due process of law made in pursuance of powers reserved to the States.

Requires the courts established by the Congress to exercise judicial power in accordance with such declarations.

What's happening now July 7, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Oct 2, 1998
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Jun 25, 1998
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4154: Ten Commandments Defense Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4154/
MLA
"H.R. 4154: Ten Commandments Defense Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4154/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4154, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4154/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4154: Ten Commandments Defense Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4154/)
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