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May 1991 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE By William S. Sessions FBI Director Law Day 1991 Since 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1st as Law Day, Americans have commemorated this country's longstanding tradition of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. In 1991, however, Law Day takes on a special significance. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. The framers of the U.S. Constitution added the Bill of Rights to ensure that the powers granted to the government did not conflict with individual liberties. They intended to establish a central government that had enough power to govern. But with the addition of the Bill of Rights, they tried to assure that this new government would not become tyrannical. The notion of carefully balancing the authority of the government with the rights of the people, although deeply rooted in the American consciousness, is not unique to America. Since the early days of civilization, when people began living together in villages and towns, man has sought rules to preserve order while protecting individual liberties. When American colonists drafted the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the rule of law became a reality on a grand scale. These amendments provided a legacy of liberty and justice that serve as the basis of our democracy. America has come to be recognized around the world as a nation of people who are guaranteed the basic rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By balancing the authority of its government and the liberty of its citizens, our country serves as an inspiration to people everywhere struggling for their dignity and freedom. Where the authority of the government and the liberty of the individual interface is where law enforcement most often finds itself. As a matter of fact, most everyday law enforcement tasks--arrests, searches and seizures, investigative detentions, eyewitness identification, interrogation--are governed by the Bill of Rights. Maintaining the fragile balance between the power of the government and the rights of the citizens is a responsibility law enforcement should and does take very seriously. We have a unique and continuing opportunity to help preserve the most precious gift passed down to us from our founding fathers--the gift of freedom. For the sake of every American, we must welcome this opportunity. Maintaining this balance is not an easy task, but with constant vigilance, we can do our part to fulfill the dreams of those who wanted a "more perfect union" under which the power of the government cannot overwhelm the rights of its people. So, as we celebrate Law Day this year, let us remember not only the law as it is in 1991, but the law as it was envisioned 200 years ago in the Bill of Rights.