House Republicans To Read Constitution Aloud

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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And here's another media event for the new year, with a nod to the Tea Party. The Republicans taking over the House of Representatives next week will read the constitution out loud in its entirety. It's something that has never been done in the chamber's 221 year history.

Many in the Tea Party feel that Congress has strayed far from the country's founding principles. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, says this is one of the ways the party plans to show that it is, quote, "serious about respecting the constitution."

It's estimated that the document, which is more than 4500 words long, and which has 27 amendments, will take about one hour to read aloud.

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