Public Law 98-516

by the 98th Congress of the United States

98^TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS
2^ND SESSION

Joint Resolution
To grant posthumously full rights of citizenship to William Penn and to Hannah Callowhill Penn.

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Whereas William Penn, as a British citizen, founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in order to carry out an experiment based upon faith in divine guidance, representative government, public education without regard to race, creed, sex or ability to pay, and respect for the civil liberties of all persons;

Whereas William Penn, as a farsighted reformer, established a judicial system including public trials, trial by a jury of peers, limitations on the imposition of capital punishment, and the substitution of workhouses for prisons;

Whereas William Penn worked to protect rights concerning personal conscience and freedom of religion consistent with the principles of the first amendment of the Constitution;

Whereas William Penn was conscientiously opposed to war as a means of settling international disputes and worked toward the elimination of war by proposing the establishment of a Parliament of Nations, not unlike the present-day United Nations; and

Whereas Hannah Callowhill Penn, wife of William Penn, for six years effectively administered the Province of Pennsylvania and like her husband devoted her life to the pursuit of peace and justice: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is hereby authorized and requested to declare by proclamation that William Penn, founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn, are honorary citizens of the United States of America.

Approved October 19, 1984.

Legislative History

-- S.J. Res. 80:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

• Vol. 129 (1983): Nov. 18, considered and passed Senate.
• Vol. 130 (1984): Oct. 4, considered and passed House.