(Note: This well-done resolution may be modified to fit other places!)

Resolution to Oppose the USA Patriot Act and Related Executive Orders

WHEREAS, Township government is the closest government to the people and therefore best suited to protect and defend the life, liberty, property and reputation of the people therein; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guarantees all persons living in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognition of their equally free and independent birthrights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness; and

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution limits the jurisdiction and authority of Congressional Acts, and

WHEREAS, all senators, representatives, members of the several state legislatures, executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, are bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution as ratified on December 15, 1791; and

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees all persons living in the United States the fundamental rights including - freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; keeping and bearing arms for themselves and the Commonwealth; freedom to decline the aiding and abetting of foreign soldiers; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection to any person; equality before the law and the presumption of innocence access to counsel in judicial proceedings; a fair, speedy and public trial by jury; protection from excessive bail, excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishments; retention of unalienable Rights; and retention of all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States as ratified December 15, 1791; and

WHEREAS, The USA Patriot Act signed by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001, the sequential and subsequent Acts which include the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, The Department of Homeland Security, past, present and future Executive Orders, and any other known and unknown law inconsistent with, and repugnant to the United States Constitution as ratified on December 15, 1791, alters the presuppositions on which our civil liberties are based and, does little to protect and defend our unalienable and inalienable Rights; and

WHEREAS, examples of the provisions in the USA Patriot Act, The Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, The Department of Homeland Security, and Executive Orders that may violate the Constitution and the Rights and civil liberties of the people within the jurisdiction of Fell Township are as follows: Significant expansion of the government's control and interference with the rights of conscience and preference of choice in their assertion of Lawful American religious and political allegiance contrary to Article 1, Section 3, Constitution of Pennsylvania Authorizes statutory disregard for each of the Rights declared by the people in Sections, 1 through 27, of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as documented in the year 2002 Significantly expands the government's ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals; and lowers the burden of proof required to conduct secret searches and telephone and Internet surveillance Gives law enforcement expanded authority to obtain library records, and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of monitoring or information requests Gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups, including religious and political organizations, as "terrorist organizations" Authorizes eavesdropping on confidential communications between lawyers and their clients in federal custody Limits disclosure of public documents and records under the Freedom of Information Act; and

WHEREAS, Department of Justice interpretations of these Acts and these Executive Orders particularly target specific racial, ethnic and religious groups and thereby encourage profiling by law enforcement and hate crime advocates in our community;

now therefore be it RESOLVED that Fell Township affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, but also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of the fundamental civil rights and presupposed unalienable Liberties of the people of Fell Township, the people of Pennsylvania, the people of the United States and the people of the World; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that Fell Township affirms the rights of all people living within the Township in accordance with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Declaration of Rights, Amendments I (one) through X (ten) of the United States Constitution as ratified on December 15, 1791, and the basis of Law as summarized by the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments, specifically as it relates to people and property, damage and injury;

and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that, to the extent legally possible, no Township employee or department shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals" civil rights or Liberties as specified in the above Declaration of Rights and Amendments to the United States Constitution, December 15, 1791;

and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fell Township Supervisors calls upon all people, private citizens and organizations, including residents, employers, educators, and business owners to demonstrate similar respect for civil rights and civil liberties, especially, but not limited to conditions of employment and cooperation with investigations;

and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Fell Township call on our United States Representative and Senators to monitor the implementation of the Act and Orders cited herein and actively work for the repeal of the Act and those Orders that violate fundamental Rights and Liberties as stated in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States Constitution and its Amendments as ratified December 15, 1791.