The Liberty Dollar Bill

October 31, 2001 -- Students at Liberty Middle School in Ashland, Virginia have come up with a remarkably good idea. It’s called " The Liberty Dollar Bill Act ", a bill proposed to Congress to place an abbreviated version of the entire U. S. Constitution on the back of one-dollar bills.

This is a great idea because Americans don’t know their Constitution—its history, its fundamentals of checks and balances, or the individual rights secured by its protections against government power.

For instance, the students cite polls showing that 62% of Americans can’t name the three branches of the federal government. And 94% of Americans don’t know their precious First Amendment rights. Can’t name them yourself? This proposal would remedy that situation, as every American handling money would have the features of the Constitution right in the palm of his or her hand. A quick and meaningful lesson in American government would be available to all.

The bill, HR 1021 and S23, has found sponsors in both the House and the Senate.

As you can see, the back of the dollar bill would be changed from the current eye in the pyramid and crested eagle to the entire preamble and an abbreviated version of the seven articles and 27 amendments.

How much would this cost? It’s about $500,000 to do the artwork for the printing. Cleverly, the students suggest that we could save more than that from the United States Information Agency, which promotes American interests abroad through educational programs. As the newly designed dollar bill circulated around the world, more people would be exposed to the American ideals of limited government and personal liberty than the current educational programs and radio broadcasts reach.

The idea has won praise from various quarters in America: Good Morning America stated, "It's such an important document on such an important piece of paper." CNN News called it "The ultimate civics lesson" and The Topeka Capital-Journal said it "may be the greatest idea ever originated in any school system."

It’s rare enough that a good idea is circulating in the halls of Congress. When one such as this surfaces, it deserves citizens’ support. I’ve contacted my Congressman and two U.S. Senators urging them to vote for this bill. My only problem with the proposal is that I didn’t think of it myself! The website of the Liberty Dollar Bill Project is www.hanover.k12.va.us/lms/libbill.htm .

Jim Cox is an Associate Professor of Economics and Political Science at Georgia Perimeter College and author of The Concise Guide to Economics.

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