A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States should exercise his constitutional authority to pardon posthumously John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the racially motivated conviction in 1913 that diminished the athletic, cultural, and historic significance of Jack Johnson and unduly tarnished his reputation.

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4196-4197)

S.Con.Res.16 through Congress

S.Con.Res.16 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateApr 1, 2009IntroducedOfficial record

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No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.Con.Res.16.

Related House measure: H.Con.Res.91 Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should grant a posthumous pardon to John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the 1913 racially motivated conviction of Johnson, which diminished his athletic, cultural, and historic significance, and tarnished his reputation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 1, 2009

Calls for the President to grant a pardon, posthumously, to Jack Johnson (the first African-American professional boxer to hold the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World) to expunge from the annals of American criminal justice a racially motivated abuse of the federal government's prosecutorial authority and to recognize his athletic and cultural contributions to society.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R–AZ

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 1, 2009
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4196-4197)
Apr 1, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4197)
Apr 1, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Apr 1, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16, 111th Congress: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States should exercise his constitutional authority to pardon posthumously John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the racially motivated conviction in 1913 that diminished the athletic, cultural, and historic significance of Jack Johnson and unduly tarnished his reputation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/16

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-04-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sconres16/BILLS-111sconres16is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16, 111th Congress: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States should exercise his constitutional authority to pardon posthumously John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the racially motivated conviction in 1913 that diminished the athletic, cultural, and historic significance of Jack Johnson and unduly tarnished his reputation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/16

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-04-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sconres16/BILLS-111sconres16is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16, 111th Congress: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States should exercise his constitutional authority to pardon posthumously John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the racially motivated conviction in 1913 that diminished the athletic, cultural, and historic significance of Jack Johnson and unduly tarnished his reputation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/16

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-04-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sconres16/BILLS-111sconres16is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16 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 S.Con.Res.16, 111th Congress: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States should exercise his constitutional authority to pardon posthumously John Arthur "Jack" Johnson for the racially motivated conviction in 1913 that diminished the athletic, cultural, and historic significance of Jack Johnson and unduly tarnished his reputation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/16

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-04-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sconres16/BILLS-111sconres16is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. 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 S.Con.Res.16 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.