REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
MAY 11, 2017
FROM: Garry Bredefeld, Councilmember
Council District 6
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Implementing the public display of our national motto, "In God We Trust" inside the Fresno City Council Chambers, on the wall behind the dais.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended Council approve the Resolution that would state the Council's support to the proposed Resolution to display our national motto, "In God We Trust" inside the Council Chambers on the wall behind the dais.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In July 2010, a Federal Appeals Court in the District of Columbia ruled 3-0 that the national motto was constitutional under the First Amendment. The Court quoted the 1970 decision in Aronow v. United States maintaining, "It is quite obvious that the national motto and slogan on coinage and currency 'In God We Trust' has nothing to do with the establishment of religion... rather, its use is of patriotic or ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise." The Supreme Court case of Town of Greece, NY v. Galloway supports this conclusion as well (see Attachment for the legal memo by the Fresno City Attorney). It has been noted and well established that the courts have consistently and repeatedly upheld the motto as constitutional and not in violation of the First Amendment (see Attachment for the legal memo by the Pacific Justice Institute).
Additionally, in November, 2011, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 13 in a landslide vote (396-9) to reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States, and encouraged its overt display. The widespread support throughout our country of our national motto, and the clear and unequivocal recognition of its legality has resulted in hundreds of cities, counties, courthouses and statehouses displaying "In God We Trust" in their chambers and/or public buildings (see Attachment for photos of "In God We Tr...
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