Thread: Should all government meetings be conducted in English?

Referendum: Should all government meetings be conducted in English?

In the coming weeks, On Deadline plans to present some of the referendum that voters will see when they go to the polls on Election Day.

Today's ballot measure comes to us from Missouri, where voters are being asked to vote on a referendum that would establish English as the state's official language. Here's how the item is described on the state's website:

Constitutional Amendment 1
Official Ballot Title:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to add a statement that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated whether conducted in person or by communication equipment including conference calls, video conferences, or Internet chat or message board?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.


How would you vote?


Earlier:
• Should marriage be limited to one man and one woman?
• Should there be a higher standard for ballot measures?
• Should cities be allowed to use red-light cameras?
• Should most abortions be outlawed?
• Should some people be allowed to grow or use marijuana?
• Should farmers be required to confine animals in more humane manner?

(Please note: This is not a scientific survey. The wording of the question that appears in our "Quick Question" may not match the wording on official ballots because of space limitations.)

Posted by Mike Carney at 12:19 PM/ET, October 21, 2008 in Politics | Permalink

By posting a comment, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older.
--------------------------------------------------------
You can vote and post a comment about this at the USA TODAY Online site at this link:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/20 ... PageReturn

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.

Why no savings? It costs money to translate minutes of a meeting into Spanish or Greek. The secretary typing up the agenda of the meeting will take twice the time to produce in English and another language. The transcriber will have to spend twice the hours to produce minutes in English and then do the whole thing over in another language. I cannot imagine a meeting being held with public input in numerous languages.
I hope MO goes for it! When in America, do as America does!

Makes perfect sense to me !If we can get this through it will be one more victory in missouri.I still wish gov. blunt would run for re-election.

There needs to be a common language (ENGLISH) unless they are prepared to conduct meetings in every language spoken by residents. That would run into millions and marathon meetings, it's ridiculous!

Funny...I doubt any district in mexico is having the debate as to whether all government meetings should be conducted in spanish!