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HJRES 40 108th Congress House

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto.

Introduced: March 18, 2003 See on congress.gov
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CommemorationsConstitutional amendmentsConstitutional lawEducationElementary and secondary educationFinance and Financial SectorFlagsLawMoneyOathsReligionReligion in the public schoolsReligious liberty
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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
May 5, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Mar 18, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 18, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 5, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the first article of amendment to the U.S. Constitution shall not be construed to prohibit the: (1) recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which shall be, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all;" nor (2) recitation or use of the national motto, which shall be, "In God we trust."
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 2
R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Nov 19, 2003
BALLENGER, CASS
· Mar 18, 2003
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Mar 18, 2003
TURNER, JIM
· Mar 18, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto.. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-40/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto.." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-40/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 40, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-40/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto.](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-40/)
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