Isabella Carter
The US Constitution has always been written in English, but this was only officially designated in 2025. However, there are two little-known German and Dutch translations printed in 1787 and 1788. These were distributed to the public in Pennsylvania, where many German immigrants lived. The German translation refers to amendments to the Constitution as improvements, while the Dutch version considers felonies to be crimes worthy of death. Despite the existence of these translations, there is no official language mentioned or contemplated in the Constitution. In 2025, the US government designated English as the official language, but there are still no federal laws that mandate the use of English. Instead, some states have their own official language laws, such as California, where the constitution was rewritten in 1878-79 to state that all official writings and proceedings be in English.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language of the United States | English (since March 1, 2025) |
| States with official language laws | Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming |
| States with older official language laws | Louisiana (1811), Nebraska (1920) |
| States with no law stating English is the official language | Wisconsin, Illinois, Louisiana |
| States with English-only instruction laws | Wisconsin, Illinois |
| States with laws recognizing Spanish language rights | California |
| States with laws recognizing Anglo-French instruction | Louisiana |
| States with English as the primary medium of public schooling | Hawaii |
| Territories with Spanish as the primary language | Puerto Rico |
| States with laws against the use of non-English languages in public schools | Colorado, Kansas City |
| Organizations supporting an English-only policy | ProEnglish, U.S. English, Immigrate Advocacy Group |
| Organizations opposing an English-only policy | ACLU |
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What You'll Learn
German and Dutch translations of the US Constitution
The US Constitution was translated into German and Dutch for German- and Dutch-speaking populations in Pennsylvania and New York. These translations were commissioned by state governments and printed by local printers. In Pennsylvania, about one-third of the population spoke German as their primary language. As such, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 copies of the Constitution to be printed in English and 1,500 copies to be printed in German.
In New York, Charles Webster of Albany printed the text of the Constitution in Dutch in 1788. The translation was commissioned by the Federal Committee, a group lobbying for the ratification of the Constitution in New York. The Dutch translation was titled "De Constitutie, eenpariglyk geaccordeerd by de Algemeene Conventie, gehouden in de Stad von Philadelphia, in 't jaar 1787".
The German and Dutch translations of the US Constitution are not official documents of American governing principles. However, they offer a unique perspective on how German and Dutch speakers were presented with certain concepts differently from the English version of the Constitution. For example, the German translation uses a different word to define "commerce" that indicates "the larger scope of actions and interactions of persons involved in business". The Dutch translation defines commerce as activities among merchants.
The German and Dutch translations also provide insight into the original public meaning of the US Constitution. For instance, the Dutch translator De Ronde interpreted the Progress Clause "for limited Times" as "voor bepaalde tyden", suggesting that it refers to a finite time.
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English as the official language
English is the official language of the United States. While there is no official language mentioned or contemplated in the US Constitution, English has been designated as the official language in an executive order on March 1, 2025. This order revoked Executive Order 13166, which improved access to services for persons with limited English proficiency. The US government is now directed to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language.
The United States has historically lacked an official language, despite efforts to establish one. Almost every session of Congress has seen an amendment proposed to adopt English as the official language. The "English-only movement" has a long history in the US, with disputes between citizens and immigrants over language dating back to the 1750s. In recent years, there have been instances of state English-only laws being interpreted to mean that English is the mandatory language of daily life, leading to incidents such as students being prohibited or even punished for speaking other languages at school.
The US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other historic governing documents have all been written in English. Proponents of English as the official language argue that a nationally designated language is essential for a unified and cohesive society, and that encouraging the learning and adoption of English will empower new citizens to achieve the American dream.
However, there is opposition to establishing English as the official language. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has published a paper detailing how such a move could violate the US Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection. They cite instances where English-only laws have resulted in the removal of non-English signage and abridged the rights of non-English speakers.
While English is now the official language at the federal level, it is important to note that several states have their own official language laws, with some dating back decades. These laws have been the subject of ongoing debate and legal interpretation.
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State English-only laws
The United States Constitution, along with other historic governing documents such as the Declaration of Independence, is written in English. In March 2025, an executive order designated English as the official language of the United States.
The modern English-only movement, also referred to as "Official English", has been met with criticism and rejection from various groups, including the Linguistic Society of America, which passed a resolution in 1986–87 opposing "'English only' measures". Despite this, the movement has a long history in the United States, dating back to Benjamin Franklin's crusade to promote Anglo-Saxon dominance over German immigrants in the colonies.
Over the years, several states have passed English-only laws, particularly in education. As of 2023, Arizona is the only state with English-only education legislation still in effect, with its Proposition 203 causing obstacles to equitable education for English Language Learners (ELLs), especially immigrants. Other states, such as California and Massachusetts, have since overturned their English-only laws.
Historically, in 1847, an Anglo-French instruction law was authorized in public schools in Louisiana. In 1849, the California constitution recognized Spanish language rights, which were later abolished after the American Civil War. In 1868, the Indian Peace Commission recommended English-only schooling for Native Americans. In the late 1880s, Wisconsin and Illinois passed English-only instruction laws for both public and parochial schools. In 1896, under the Republic of Hawaii government, English became the primary medium of public schooling for Hawaiian children.
In more recent times, voters in Nashville, Tennessee, rejected a proposal in 2009 to make the city the largest in the US to prohibit the government from using languages other than English, except for health and safety issues. In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was criticized for stating that Puerto Rico should be required to make English its primary language as a condition of statehood.
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English-only instruction laws
The English-only movement has a long history in the United States, with disputes between citizens and immigrants over the use of English dating back to the 1750s. At that time, street signs in Pennsylvania were changed to include both English and German to accommodate German immigrants. This debate continued until World War I, when international hostility led to the rejection of the German language. An 1847 law authorized Anglo-French instruction in public schools in Louisiana, and in 1849, the California constitution recognized Spanish language rights. These language rights were later abolished after the American Civil War.
In the late 1880s, Wisconsin and Illinois passed English-only instruction laws for both public and parochial schools. In 1896, under the Republic of Hawaii government, English became the primary medium of public schooling for Hawaiian children. After the Spanish-American War, English was declared "the official language of the school room" in Puerto Rico. In 1994, John Tanton and other former U.S. English associates founded ProEnglish specifically to defend Arizona's English-only law. They reject the term "English-only movement" and ask their supporters to refer to the movement as "Official English".
The modern English-only movement has faced criticism and rejection from various groups, including the Linguistic Society of America, which passed a resolution in 1986-87 opposing "English-only" measures. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also stated that English-only laws are inconsistent with the First Amendment right to free speech and the right to equality.
Despite this criticism, many states have passed laws designating English as the official language. In 2004, a teacher in Scottsdale, Arizona, claimed to be enforcing English immersion policies when she allegedly slapped students for speaking Spanish in class. In 2005, a student in Kansas City was suspended for speaking Spanish in the school hallways. These incidents highlight the controversial nature of English-only instruction laws and the impact they can have on students.
In recent years, there has been a shift towards bilingual and multilingual education programs, and statewide English-only laws are on the brink of extinction. In 2016, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 58, which repealed the English-only instruction mandate of Proposition 127, passed in 1998. Arizona is also expected to repeal its longstanding ban on bilingual education, with supporters arguing that evidence-based practices and flexibility will help English learners more quickly pick up their new language and succeed in the long term.
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English-only movement
The English-only movement, also known as the Official English movement or English First, is a political movement that advocates for the exclusive use of the English language in official United States government communication. The movement seeks to establish English as the only official language in the United States, arguing that it is essential for a unified and cohesive society. While supporters of the movement believe that a common language fosters unity, critics argue that English-only laws are inconsistent with the First Amendment right to free speech and the right to equality.
The English-only movement has a long history in the United States, dating back to the 1750s when disputes between citizens and immigrants over language use first emerged. In Pennsylvania, street signs were changed to include both English and German to accommodate German immigrants, sparking a debate that continued until World War I when international hostility led to the rejection of the German language. In the late 1800s, Wisconsin and Illinois passed English-only instruction laws for schools, and similar measures were implemented in other states and territories, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The modern English-only movement gained momentum in the 1900s with support from President Theodore Roosevelt, who stated, "We only have room for one language in this country, and it is English." More recently, Republican candidates like Rick Santorum and Donald Trump have promoted the movement during their presidential campaigns, with Trump declaring, "This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish."
ProEnglish, founded in 1994 by John Tanton and other supporters of Arizona's English-only law, is one of the main organizations driving the English-only movement. While ProEnglish acknowledges the right to use other languages, it lobbies for English to be adopted as the official language at all levels of government and for an end to bilingual education in American public schools. The group has faced criticism for its agenda, which some perceive as discriminatory towards immigrants and their languages and cultures.
Despite the efforts of the English-only movement, the United States currently has no official language. While 32 states have English as their official language, attempts to establish English as the official language at the federal level have repeatedly failed. An executive order issued on March 1, 2025, declared English to be the official language of the United States; however, this order was later revoked, and the debate over the officiality of English in the United States continues.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is written in English.
No, there are no other languages used in the US Constitution. However, in the late 1780s, German and Dutch translations of the Constitution were circulated among residents of states where these languages were spoken.
Yes, in 2025, English was designated as the official language of the United States through an executive order. This move was supported by groups like ProEnglish and U.S. English, which aim to defend English-only laws in the country.
Establishing English as the official language has been a controversial issue. While some argue that it promotes unity and cohesion in society, others, like the ACLU, argue that it violates the US Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection for non-English speakers.
