Directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the chamber of the House of Representatives if the Supreme Court of the United States rules against religious freedom by holding that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments constitutes a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 14, 2005

Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the House chamber if the Supreme Court holds in specified pending cases that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments violates the First Amendment.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-5] · R–IA

Committees

Committee on House Administration

19 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Apr 14, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Apr 14, 2005
Introduced in House
Apr 14, 2005
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 14, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.214 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.214, 109th Congress: Directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the chamber of the House of Representatives if the Supreme Court of the United States rules against religious freedom by holding that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments constitutes a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/214

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres214/BILLS-109hres214ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:33:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Res.214 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.214 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.214, 109th Congress: Directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the chamber of the House of Representatives if the Supreme Court of the United States rules against religious freedom by holding that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments constitutes a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/214

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres214/BILLS-109hres214ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:33:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.214 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.214 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.214, 109th Congress: Directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the chamber of the House of Representatives if the Supreme Court of the United States rules against religious freedom by holding that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments constitutes a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/214

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres214/BILLS-109hres214ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:33:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.214 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.214 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.214, 109th Congress: Directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for the display of the Ten Commandments in the chamber of the House of Representatives if the Supreme Court of the United States rules against religious freedom by holding that the display of the Ten Commandments in public places by State and local governments constitutes a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/214

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres214/BILLS-109hres214ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:33:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.214 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.