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SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would require civics teachers in the state to teach that the U.S. is a constitutional republic passed the House on Monday after lively debate over whether such a bill overstepped the bounds of the Legislature.
Our government is in fact a constitutional republic. It protects the rights of the individuals because it balances power.
–Rep. Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork
Rep. Michael Morley, R- Spanish Fork, is sponsoring the legislation. He told his fellow lawmakers he became concerned about civics and history curriculum in the state when his own children didn't seem to have an understanding of the U.S. form of government.
"Our government is in fact a constitutional republic," he said. "It protects the rights of the individuals because it balances power."
HB220 mandates social studies teachers instruct that the U.S. government is a constitutional republic, which by definition is:
A state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
A democracy on the other hand is:
A government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
Morley's bill amends current law about American history curriculum.
This is a small part of one of our courses in our public schools, and I wonder if it's appropriate for us to be managing that curriculum. Where does this end? ... This is certainly not our jurisdiction.
–Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Salt Lake
Multiple democratic legislators who were former civics teachers opposed the bill, saying teachers are already explaining all forms of government. They said Morley's bill is about micromanaging education.
"This is a small part of one of our courses in our public schools, and I wonder if it's appropriate for us to be managing that curriculum," said Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Salt Lake, a former high school history teacher. "Where does this end? ... This is certainly not our jurisdiction."
Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake, said he would support the legislation if it was amended to read "a democratic constitutional republic." Briscoe taught advanced placement U.S. government at Bountiful High School.
"I am in no disagreement whatsoever with the sponsor that we live in a republic," he said, noting that a democracy and a republic are not mutually exclusive. His amendment failed.
Rep. Lavar Christensen, R-Draper, said the pledge of allegiance states the U.S. is a republic, not a democratic republic, and called claims that the bill is interfering with education "a huge overreaction."
He said democracy has been the prevailing word used in this country in recent years, and it's been "convoluted and confused."
"A republic means that we have consciously adopted a constitution," he said. "This bill makes that important distinction."
Morley's bill passed the House 57-17, with one legislator not present. The bill now goes to the Senate.
E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com
