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{{Short description|Proposed bill to establish English as the official language of the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
The '''English Language Unity Act''' was first introduced in 2005. It hoped to establish [[English language|English]] as the [[official language]] of the [[federal government of the United States]]. If enacted it would require that all official functions and proceedings of federal and state government be conducted in English. It would also require that applicants for [[naturalization]] be tested on their ability to read and generally understand the English language. They would be tested on the laws of the United States as well as other important documents that relate to the law, including the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|Declaration of Independence]] and [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]]. It would also require that all naturalization ceremonies be conducted in English. If a person became injured because of violations of this act, they would be able to file suit in court. Before this act could be considered by the [[House of Representatives of the United States|House of Representatives]] it had to be approved by the House Judiciary, and Education and the Workforce Committees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-997|title=Text of H.R. 997 (112th): English Language Unity Act of 2011 (Introduced version) - GovTrack.us|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>▼
[[File:USA states english official language.svg|thumb|alt=Map of United States Official Language Status By State|Map of US official language status by state before 2016. Blue: English declared the official language; light-blue: 2 official languages, including English; gray: no official language specified.▼
▲]]The '''English Language Unity Act''' was first introduced in 2005. It hoped to establish [[English language|English]] as the [[official language]] of the [[federal government of the United States]]. If enacted, it would require that all official functions and proceedings of federal and state government be conducted in English. It would also require that applicants for [[naturalization]] be tested on their ability to read and generally understand the English language. They would be tested on the laws of the United States as well as other important documents that relate to the law, including the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|Declaration of Independence]] and [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]]. It would also require that all naturalization ceremonies be conducted in English. If a person became injured because of violations of this act, they would be able to file suit in court. Before this act could be considered by the [[House of Representatives of the United States|House of Representatives]], it had to be approved by the House Judiciary, and Education and the Workforce Committees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-997|title=Text of H.R. 997 (112th): English Language Unity Act of 2011 (Introduced version) - GovTrack.us|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
==History==
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Representative King reintroduced the bill as the English Unity Act of 2007 on February 12, 2007. This time it gained the support of 153 cosponsors. The last action on this proposed bill was on June 5, 2007 when the [[United States House Committee on Education and Labor|House Committee on Education and Labor]] referred the bill to the subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, Elementary and Secondary Education. Congress adjourned before further action could be taken, so the bill died again in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-997|title=English Language Unity Act of 2007 (2007 - H.R. 997)|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
Representative King alongside Senator [[Jim Inhofe]] introduced the English Language Unity Act of 2011 on Friday, March 10, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-997|title=English Language Unity Act of 2011 (2011 - H.R. 997)|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref> In a release King defended his proposition by saying "A common language is the most powerful unifying force known throughout history. We need to encourage assimilation of all legal immigrants in each generation. A nation divided by language cannot pull together as effectively as a people." Inhofe added: "This [[legislation]] will provide much-needed commonality among [[United States]] citizens, regardless of heritage. As a nation built by immigrants, it is important that we share one vision and one official language."<ref>{{cite web|url=
H.R. 997 had the support of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] (2017-2019), The Senate companion bill to H.R. 997, labeled S. 678 in the 116th Congress, was sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma. It had 7 supporters in the U.S. Senate in the 115th Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://proenglish.org/2019/07/17/rep-alex-mooney-co-sponsors-english-language-unity-act|title = Rep. Alex Mooney Co-Sponsors English Language Unity Act|date = 17 July 2019}}</ref>
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==Controversy==
Repeated attempts to make English the official language of the United States
Those against the legislation argue the bill deals with a non-issue. They claim Congress does not need to establish legislation
Some opponents of the bill also argue that the legislation is unconstitutional. They assert it would limit the government's ability to correspond with all its citizens, and that by restricting federal and state employees from communicating with citizens in a language other than English, the bill violates [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|
Supporters of the legislation take the position that accommodation of non-English speakers discourages [[Cultural assimilation|assimilation]]. They acknowledge that the ability to speak a language other than English is valuable, and that its use in the home, church, or private place of business should in no way be discouraged.
== States legislation ==
Thirty-one states currently have adopted legislation similar to the English Language Unity Act:
▲[[File:USA states english official language.svg|thumb|alt=Map of United States Official Language Status By State|Map of US official language status by state before 2016. Blue: English declared the official language; light-blue: 2 official languages, including English; gray: no official language specified.
*Alabama (1990)
*Alaska (1998)
*Arizona (2006)
*Arkansas (1987)
*California (1986)
*Colorado (1988)
*Florida (1988)
*Georgia (1986 & 1996)
*Hawaii (1978)
*Idaho (2007)
*Illinois (1969)
*Indiana (1984)
*Iowa (2002)
*Kansas (2007)
*Kentucky (1984)
*Louisiana (1812)
*Massachusetts (1975)
*Mississippi (1987)
*Missouri (1998 & 2008)
*Montana (1995)
*Nebraska (1920)
*New Hampshire (1995)
*North Carolina (1987)
*North Dakota (1987)
*Oklahoma (2010)
*South Carolina (1987)
*South Dakota (1995)
*Tennessee (1984)
*Utah (2000)
*Virginia (1981 & 1996)
*Wyoming (1996).
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.us-english.org/inc/official/states.asp |title=States with Official English Laws |accessdate=2010-04-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106211903/http://www.us-english.org/inc/official/states.asp |archivedate=2010-01-06 }}</ref>
==Polling==
In 2018, an Rasmussen poll found that 81% of American Adults thought that English should be the official language of the United States, 12% did not.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/april_2018/americans_strongly_favor_english_as_official_language|title = Americans Strongly Favor English as Official Language}}</ref>
In 2021, a Rasmussen poll found that 73% of Americans thought that English should be the official language. Only 18% disagreed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/april_2021/americans_still_support_english_as_official_language|title = Americans Still Support English as Official Language}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[English-only movement]]
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