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HR 2045 108th 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 of 2003

Introduced: May 9, 2003 Introduced by: Aderholt, Robert B. Republican · Alabama See on congress.gov
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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
Jun 25, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 9, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 9, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003 - Declares the following : (1) that the power to display the Ten Commandments on or within property owned or administered by the several States or their political subdivisions is among the powers reserved to the States respectively (under the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution); (2) that the expression of religious faith by individual persons on or within property owned or administered by the several States or their political subdivisions is among the rights secured (under the First Amendment) against laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion made or enforced by the Federal Government; and (3) that the expression of religious faith by individual persons on or within property owned or administered by the several States or their political subdivisions is among the liberties of which no State shall deprive any person without due process of law made in pursuance of powers reserved to the States respectively.

What's happening now June 25, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Republican 13
R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Feb 24, 2004
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Jan 28, 2004
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Oct 2, 2003
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Sep 30, 2003
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Sep 9, 2003
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Sep 5, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jul 25, 2003
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · May 9, 2003
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · May 9, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · May 9, 2003
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · May 9, 2003
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 9, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · May 9, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2045: Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2045/
MLA
"H.R. 2045: Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2045/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2045, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2045/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2045: Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2045/)
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