AS ADOPTED BY SENATE, February 26, 2020

senate resolution no.105

Senators Alexander, Geiss, Bullock, Polehanki, Moss, Bayer, McBroom, McCann, Lauwers, Wojno, Ananich, Hollier and Santana offered the following resolution:

A resolution to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment.

Whereas, The United States Congress sought to correct an imbalance of power by expanding the national voting privilege for white male citizens above 21 years old to include African-Americans of similar distinction; and

Whereas, As a result, Congress proposed the 15th Amendment to the Constitution which would prohibit the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and

Whereas, On February 26, 1869, Congress voted to approve the 15th Amendment which was then submitted to the states for ratification. Michigan then ratified the 15th Amendment on February 3, 1870; and

Whereas, The 15th Amendment was the first constitutional amendment to grant voting rights to previously excluded Americans. This also set the precedent for 50 years later with the adoption of women's suffrage in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution; and

Whereas, For the past 150 years, the 15th Amendment served as the primary defense against systemic voter disenfranchisement endured by many over generations, while also becoming an integral component to the establishment and preservation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment; and be it further

Resolved, That we recognize this historic action that upholds the fundamental, democratic principles cherished by its timeless words.