There is no reference to language in either the American Declaration of Independence (1776) or the Constitution of the United States (1789). Hence by default the Constitution places responsibility for education in the hands of the individual states. There is, therefore, no federal policy on languages in education - the only exception being the 1990 Native American Languages Act, which states that it is the goal of the United States to preserve these languages. The United States education system is characterised by a high degree of local autonomy and decentralisation. Though there is a federal Department of Education, primary responsibility for education rests on the 'several states'. In just about every aspect of public administration there exists a long tradition of suspicion towards conceding power to the government in Washington. Indeed it is quite common to hear suggestions that the federal Department of Education be abolished, and a number of Republican candidates for President have included this among their policies.