Got around to finding the complete text of the bill I mentioned in my last post. Here it is, in its entirety. The complete text of the debate on the bill is posted on house.gov. Long, but the bits I read were pretty interesting.
AN ACT
To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Pledge Protection Act of 2004′.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON JURISDICTION.
(a) In General- Chapter 99 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 1632. Limitation on jurisdiction
`No court created by Act of Congress shall have any jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court shall have no appellate jurisdiction, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution of, the Pledge of Allegiance, as defined in section 4 of title 4, or its recitation.’. The limitation in this section shall not apply to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 99 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
`1632. Limitation on jurisdiction.’.
Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 2004.
Attest:
Clerk.
END
Even though it’s very unlikely that this will become law, it’s scary that the House would pass it as all.