for voting for state or local officials and who resides in the county shall be qualified to serve as a juror therein unless such citizen. (1) is unable to read, write, speak and understand the English TEXAS Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, Through 1982-1983 Cumulative Annual Pocket (a) English shall be the basic language of instruction in all schools. (b) It is the policy of this state to insure the mastery of English by all pupils in the schools; provided that bilingual instruction may be offered or permitted in those situations when such instruction is necessary to insure their reasonable efficiency in the English language so as not to be educationally disadvantaged. VERMONT Vermont Statutes Annotated, Through 1981 Cumulative Pocket Supplement 4 § 731. English Language. Writs, process, complaints, information, indictments, pleas, answers and entries in the courts, except technical terms, shall be in the English language. VIRGINIA Code of Virginia Annotated 1950, Through 1983 Cumulative Supplement English shall be designated as the official language of the commonwealth of Virginia. School boards shall have no obligation to teach the standard curriculum in a language other than English. WISCONSIN West's Wisconsin Statutes Annotated, Through 1983-1984 Cumulative Pocket Part All writs, process, proceedings and records in any court within this state shall be in the English language, except that proper and known names of process and technical words may be expressed in the language heretofore and commonly used, and shall be made out on paper or parchment in a fair, legible character, in words at length and not abbreviated; but such abbreviations as are now commonly used in the English language may be used and numbers may be expressed by Arabic figures or Roman numerals in the usual (1) Persons who are U.S. citizens, who are electors of the state, who are able to read and understand the English language. Mark E. Gurevitz Legislative Research American Law Division The Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, of which I would appreciate any information you are at liberty to share on this topic at your earliest convenience. These data should help us produce a definitive legislative record on an official language policy and should assist Congress considerably in its future deliberations on this important issue. After consulting the Secretary of State, the Department of Education, and the Mexican American Commission of the State of Nebraska, it appears to me that the designation of English as the official language of the State has had minimal effects on the State and its government. Please find enclosed letters from the Secretary of State, the Commissioner of Education and the Executive Director of the Mexican American Commission. The Secretary of State informs me that using English as the official language of the State has not caused problems in government, commerce, schools, or industry. He further states that, when bilingual ballots were required by Congress in two counties in Nebraska, they were utilized by only two voters in eight elections. He The Commissioner of Education expresses the opinion that declaring English the official language of the State has had little impact, if any, on the Nebraska educational system. advances the concern of a staff member of the Department that enactment of federal legislation declaring English the official language of the United States would prevent the use of foreign languages in subject-matter instruction.. Attached to his letter to me is a statement by S.I. Hayakawa with regard to an English language amendment which he proposed in 1982. The Director of the Mexican American Commission informs me that no complaints with regard to the current Nebraska law have been received by the Commission. The Director of the Commission believes that national legislation declaring English the official language of the United States is not necessary and would be costly. Attached to his letter to me are three items: (1) an article from the NALEO National Report supporting a constitutional amendment introduced by Senator Walter Huddleston which would make English the official language of the United States; (2) an editorial from the Omaha World Herald newspaper favoring English as the official language of our country; and (3) a news release from the Council of La Raza opposing an official language of the United States because non-English speaking citizens would thereby be disenfranchised. hope that this information will be of assistance to you. Sincerely Paul L. Douglas PLD/bae Enclosures Box 94987 Joe E. Lutjeharms Commissioner Box 94987 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 State Board of Education William C. Ramsey 6481 Cuming Street Omaha, Nebraska 68132 Cynthia H. Milligan 1201 Street Suite 102 Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 James Monahan 623 Service Life Building Omaha, Nebraska 68102 Walter M. Thompson Route 2 Oakland. Nebraska 68045 Helen Greene Rural Route 2 Ashland, Nebraska 68003 William W. Marshall, III 2610 Arrowhead Road Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Dennis L. Arfmann 1455 11th Street Gering. Nebraska 69341 Daniel G. Urwiller 3604 Avenue E Kearney, Nebraska 68847 NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 Telephone: (402) 471-2295 November 15, 1984 Paul L. Douglas Attorney General Department of Justice Lincoln, NE 68509 RE: English Language Amendment Dear Attorney General Douglas: In response to your letter of October 24, 1984, regarding Senator Our bilingual education consultant is concerned that the proposed An obvious advantage of the proposed amendment would be the prevention of potential legislation requiring dual translation of government documents, as has occurred in the past in Canada, which could cause government agencies to duplicate much of their paperwork. It would also prevent an individual state from possibly choosing another official language, which could cause problems in government interstate transactions. |