Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 89.djvu/1267

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—OCT. 23, 1975

89 STAT. 1207

leader of the House and the majority leader of the Senate, acting jointly, or the minority leader of the House and the minority leader of the Senate, acting jointly, file a written request with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate that the Congress reassemble for the consideration of legislation. SEC. 3. During the adjournment of both Houses of Congress as provided in section 1, the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, respectively, be, and they hereby are, authorized to receive messages, including veto messages, from the President of the United States. Passed October 9, 1975.

L O A N O F MAGNA C A R T A

October 23, 1975 [H. Con. Res. 458]

Whereas, the historic document known as the Magna Carta of 1215 A.D. represents an essential link in the long chain of constitutional instruments; and Whereas, American Colonists brought with them from England the traditions of free government and the principle that all persons stand as equals before the law, concepts which had been embodied in the Magna Carta, and they regarded them as their birthright and incorporated them in their colonial charters and constitutions; and Whereas, in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the United States, our Founding Fathers sought to guarantee to the ^^^i^^^^^'^' people of these United States the freedom of the church, an independent judiciary, the right to a speedy trial, and the concept of due process of law, which principles were clearly derived from the Magna Carta; and Whereas, in recognition of the Bicentennial celebrations of the United States of America, the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have unanimously adopted motions respectfully praying that Her Majesty, The Queen, direct that an original copy of the Magna Carta he loaned to the people of the United States, to be held by their representative, the Congress of the United States, for a period of one year; and Whereas, this loan has been authorized by Her Majesty, The Queen, in order that this historic document may be displayed in the Capitol, enclosed in a showcase donated by the United Kingdom for that purpose; Therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives {the Senate concurring)^ That the Congress of the United States recognizes that it is natural that men should value the original documents which guarantee their rights, and thus hereby expresses its sincere gratitude to Her Majesty, The Queen, the Parliament and the people of the United Kingdom for their loan to this Nation of the Magna Carta, a document of historic and symbolic significance to the peoples of both our Nations, and believes that its temporary residence here in the country of its philosophical descendants, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, will contribute an important historical use prec. perspective to the Bicentennial celebration; and be it further

�