Writing a Bill for my AP Government Class

[Godless]

In my AP Government class, we are doing a "Model Congress" in which each student has to write two bills and present one of them with a supporting essay. I decided to write a bill to remove the phrase "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. Here's the bill along with the supporting essay, so tell me what you guys think. Will I have any chance of getting it passed?

Note: I named it H.R. 666 so it would be humorous.

2009 Spartan Model Congress                  H.R.   666
110th Congress

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 13, 2009
Rep. __________ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on  Education and Workforce
--------------------------------------
A BILL

1   Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
2  in Congress assembled,
3  SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4   This Act may be cited as the "Secularization of the Pledge of Allegiance in Public          
5 Educational Facilities of 2009".
6  SECTION 2. ESTABLISHING
7    The Pledge of the Allegiance of the United States recited by persons in the public              
8 educational system shall be a secular doctrine in a way that the phrase “Under God” is absent  
9 and makes no mention of any entities relating to religion. The respective doctrine that will be
10 recited shall read as “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
11 republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
12 SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY.
13    All persons attending and instructing at public educational institutions established by
14 their respective states shall fall under the provisions of this Act as prescribed above.
15  SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATION.
16    The cooperation between officials of local educational boards and public institutions    
17 within their jurisdiction shall ensure the Pledge of Allegiance recited each day by respective  
18 persons has a secular purpose that is inclusive of all citizens of the United States, which will
19 allow it to be inclusive of both persons of religious and non-believing backgrounds.
20  SECTION 5. PENALTIES.
21   All public institutions within the jurisdiction of the United States, inclusive of territories
22 and military establishments, shall act in accordance with the provisions of this Act and are  
23 subject to penalties carried out by the Department of Education, including the discipline of  
24 local school officials.
25  SECTION 6. ENACTMENT.  
26   This bill shall be enacted on October 1, 2009.

Signature ____________________________


Supporting Essay on H.R. 666
   The Pledge of Allegiance that is recited by students and instructors in public schools in the United States did not always have the phrase “Under God.” It was added in 1954 in addition to “In God We Trust” being printed on the country’s legal tender a decade later. The Founding Fathers of our nation established the separation of church and state and wanted the Constitution to be found under a secular cause. The Establishment Clause within the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights says that the federal government cannot promote religion or establish an official church. Adding the phrase “Under God” is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause, as it has a religious purpose, rather than a secular one. Although it is not obvious, the God referenced in the Pledge of Allegiance is the Judeo-Christian God, as most policy-makers within this nation are Christian. In terms of being inclusive of all citizens, this clearly contradicts it, as it does not include other religions, as well as non-believers. Not every individual in this nation is Christian and not everyone believes in God. Studies from the American Religious Identification Survey, released in March of 2009, shows that approximately 45 million Americans, or 15%, have no religious faith. This includes atheists, agnostics, deists, skeptics, freethinkers, secular humanists, and secularists. Some may argue that the God that is in the Pledge of Allegiance can be any God for any religion. This is false, as people need to realize that the people who added “Under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance are the same type of people who want the Ten Commandments posted in public places and also want Bible reading to be kept in school, endorsing only Christianity. In comparison to other western democracies, the United States also happens to be the most religious. While many European nations vow to keep their public facilities secular, some Americans try to find any excuse to slip religion in to anything. Not all Americans want to be subjected to policies that relate to religion when they do not believe in that particular religion or any religion at all. This includes the Pledge of Allegiance and our other God-promoting policies.

[Will]

Isn't there a comma after "one nation"? As in "one nation(,) indivisible, with liberty..."

I have horrible grammar, and I was frequently chastised for it in non-language classes like government.

Otherwise, fantastic job. You totally have my vote.

[Twiddler]

Very impressive.  Hopefully it goes over well in your class (that is if you have to present it, I remember having to present something like this for a government class in high school).

[Whitney]

I'd vote for it.  

I don't know what kind of people your classmates are, but do you think they'd find humor in using '666' in the title or would it distract from your point by making them think about evil devil worshiping atheists?

[AlP]

Yeah I'd think about changing the 666. It it's a serious topic and, although the 666 is amusing, it might weaken your argument.

[ACSlater]

I'd vote for it.  

I don't know what kind of people your classmates are, but do you think they'd find humor in using '666' in the title or would it distract from your point by making them think about evil devil worshiping atheists?

I have to agree. Seeing the '666' may steal the some of the strength of your bill depending on the type of people in your class.

Does anyone find it ironic how "One nation under God, indivisible" causes so much division among this nation? Even if those that founded this country believed in a god, they avoid pigeon-holing anyone to a particular belief with a clause that is mentioned in your Bill. To me, there is a beauty in that design because by not establishing a religion, they reinforce a freedom that is granted to each of us; it wouldn't even be a sincere dedication if they did, it would be compliance at the consequence of punishment.

That's all I've got. Would you allow us the honor of saying how it goes when you get your results?