Item No. 2.
| MEETING DATE: 04/19/2021 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Rob Ferrier, Assistant to the City Manager |
| SUBJECT: | CONSIDER THE DISPLAY OF THE PHRASE "IN GOD WE TRUST" IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER |
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council provide direction to staff regarding the display of the phrase "In God We Trust" in the City Council Chamber.
DISCUSSION:
During the "Comments from Councilmembers" portion of the City Council meeting of March 2, 2021, Councilmember Shaw requested that the City Council consider displaying the phrase "In God We Trust" in the City Council Chamber. The request to have staff research this issue for additional City Council consideration was supported by Councilmember Simonian.
Background
The Latin phrase E pluribus unum, which translates in English as "Out of many, one," or "From many, one," had served as the de facto motto of the United States since the nation's founding. Along with the phrases Annuit coeptis ("He favors our undertakings") and Novus ordo seclorum ("New order of the ages"), E pluribus unum has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782, predating the U.S. Constitution, and is part of the symbology that defines the United States of America. In fact, E pluribus unum is part of the national coat of arms of the United States, which depicts a bald eagle holding a scroll in its beak with the phrase emblazoned upon it. The coat of arms can be found on American coins, currency, and official documents, such as passports.
Likewise, the phrase "In God We Trust" has long been part of the American lexicon, first appearing in the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" a piece written by Francis Scott Key that described the 1814 American defense of Fort McHenry against British attack. A portion of the poem contained the line "And this be our motto - In God is our trust." Parts of Key's poem were later set to music and adopted as The Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States.
As with E pluribus unum, In God We Trust has also long appeared on American coins, first displayed on the obverse side of the two-cent piece in 1864. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the motto was minted on coins as the direct result of appeals from devout individuals who experienced increased religious sentiment during the American Civil War (https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx).
The use of In God We Trust on American money has not been uninterrupted. For example, it was not included on the five-cent coin that began circulation in the 1880s. Nor was it included on certain American gold coins that began to circulate in the early 20th century. However, in response to popular demand and Congressional action, the phrase has appeared on all American coins since at least 1938, for some coins even earlier, and it first appeared on paper currency in 1957.
Pursuant to a law passed by the 84th Congress and approved by then President Eisenhower, In God We Trust became the national motto of the United States on July 30, 1956. Since then, proponents and opponents of the national motto have argued over the religious connotations associated with the phrase and whether it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." but the constitutionality of the motto has been consistently upheld by courts according to the judicial interpretation of accommodationism, which generally states that In God We Trust is not coercive, does not prefer one religious denomination over another, and does not dictate anyone's particular religious belief or lack thereof.
In the years before and after In God We Trust became the national motto, it has appeared in government buildings at all levels of government, including prominent display in the U.S. House of Representatives. It has appeared on some state flags and has also been adopted by some states as their official motto, and has also appeared on select items of state-issued identification, such as license plates.
Since the early 2000s, "In God We Trust America, Inc." a California non-profit organization, has advocated a mission that would "promote patriotism by encouraging elected officials...to display our congressionally approved national motto In God We Trust in every City/County Chamber, and State Capitol in America" (see https://ingodwetrustamerica.org/). Nearly 150 California cities are listed among those who display the phrase somewhere in their respective City Council Chamber, including more than 20 Orange County cities.
The decision of whether to display In God We Trust within a government building is a policy decision of the local legislative body, i.e. the City Council. Typically, those cities that have chosen to display the phrase in their City Council Chamber use letters approximately 4 to 5 inches in height cut from metal, hard plastic, or raised foam. Some agencies have preferred to paint or etch the phrase onto a wall. The lettering is often placed either behind or in front of the City Council Dais. In some instances, depending on the unique layout of a City Council Chamber, the lettering may be displayed elsewhere in the room, such as on a side wall, above an entrance door, or in a vestibule that leads into the Chamber.
Background
The Latin phrase E pluribus unum, which translates in English as "Out of many, one," or "From many, one," had served as the de facto motto of the United States since the nation's founding. Along with the phrases Annuit coeptis ("He favors our undertakings") and Novus ordo seclorum ("New order of the ages"), E pluribus unum has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782, predating the U.S. Constitution, and is part of the symbology that defines the United States of America. In fact, E pluribus unum is part of the national coat of arms of the United States, which depicts a bald eagle holding a scroll in its beak with the phrase emblazoned upon it. The coat of arms can be found on American coins, currency, and official documents, such as passports.
Likewise, the phrase "In God We Trust" has long been part of the American lexicon, first appearing in the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" a piece written by Francis Scott Key that described the 1814 American defense of Fort McHenry against British attack. A portion of the poem contained the line "And this be our motto - In God is our trust." Parts of Key's poem were later set to music and adopted as The Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States.
As with E pluribus unum, In God We Trust has also long appeared on American coins, first displayed on the obverse side of the two-cent piece in 1864. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the motto was minted on coins as the direct result of appeals from devout individuals who experienced increased religious sentiment during the American Civil War (https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx).
The use of In God We Trust on American money has not been uninterrupted. For example, it was not included on the five-cent coin that began circulation in the 1880s. Nor was it included on certain American gold coins that began to circulate in the early 20th century. However, in response to popular demand and Congressional action, the phrase has appeared on all American coins since at least 1938, for some coins even earlier, and it first appeared on paper currency in 1957.
Pursuant to a law passed by the 84th Congress and approved by then President Eisenhower, In God We Trust became the national motto of the United States on July 30, 1956. Since then, proponents and opponents of the national motto have argued over the religious connotations associated with the phrase and whether it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." but the constitutionality of the motto has been consistently upheld by courts according to the judicial interpretation of accommodationism, which generally states that In God We Trust is not coercive, does not prefer one religious denomination over another, and does not dictate anyone's particular religious belief or lack thereof.
In the years before and after In God We Trust became the national motto, it has appeared in government buildings at all levels of government, including prominent display in the U.S. House of Representatives. It has appeared on some state flags and has also been adopted by some states as their official motto, and has also appeared on select items of state-issued identification, such as license plates.
Since the early 2000s, "In God We Trust America, Inc." a California non-profit organization, has advocated a mission that would "promote patriotism by encouraging elected officials...to display our congressionally approved national motto In God We Trust in every City/County Chamber, and State Capitol in America" (see https://ingodwetrustamerica.org/). Nearly 150 California cities are listed among those who display the phrase somewhere in their respective City Council Chamber, including more than 20 Orange County cities.
The decision of whether to display In God We Trust within a government building is a policy decision of the local legislative body, i.e. the City Council. Typically, those cities that have chosen to display the phrase in their City Council Chamber use letters approximately 4 to 5 inches in height cut from metal, hard plastic, or raised foam. Some agencies have preferred to paint or etch the phrase onto a wall. The lettering is often placed either behind or in front of the City Council Dais. In some instances, depending on the unique layout of a City Council Chamber, the lettering may be displayed elsewhere in the room, such as on a side wall, above an entrance door, or in a vestibule that leads into the Chamber.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Should the City Council approve the placement of the phrase "In God We Trust" in the Council Chamber, the cost for four-inch lettering would be approximately $500 to $600, depending on the material used for construction, and can be installed by City staff. There is adequate funding in the approved Fiscal Year 2020-2021 City Council budget for this expense.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
CI (Community Identity)
CR (Cultural Resources)
CR (Cultural Resources)