WHEREAS
, On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was passed, giving women the right to vote; and
WHEREAS
, Progressives for years, nay decades, nay well more than a century, struggled mightily to secure for women the right to vote and political equality, fulfilling the promise of the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS
, American women now compose more than half of our nation's voting-age population; and
WHEREAS
, The nonpartisan League of Women Voters was founded shortly before the 19th Amendment was passed, to educate women about the importance of the right to vote and the exercise of that franchise; and
WHEREAS
, The League began as a mighty political experiment designed to help 20 million women carry out their responsibilities as voters, encouraging them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy; and
WHEREAS
, The League currently continues to encourage women to use their new power to help shape public policy: Members are encouraged to educate citizens about, and lobby for, government and social reform legislation; and
WHEREAS
, Philadelphia's National Constitution Center and the National Women's History Project of Santa Rosa, California, have cosponsored Women Win the Vote: 85 Years and Beyond; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
, That City Council Hereby Recognize, Honor, And Celebrate The 85th Anniversary Of A Great American Milestone - The 19th Amendment To The U.S. Constitution Was Passed Giving Women The Right to Vote.
FURTHER RESOLVED,
That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
End