Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution does not mention an official language. Despite efforts to establish English as the official language, including an executive order in 2025, and the introduction of bills in Congress, the United States has no official language. This is surprising to many, given its status as a major English-speaking country. Interestingly, there were efforts to establish German as the official language in 1795, and in 1923, Illinois officially declared that its official language would be American.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | English |
| Date of Declaration | 1 March 2025 |
| Previous Efforts | John Adams' attempt in 1780 to establish an official academy devoted to English; German as the official language in 1795 |
| Opposition | ACLU |
| 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 Statutes | Louisiana (1811), Nebraska (1920) |
| States with No Official Language | Illinois |
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What You'll Learn
The United States has no official language mentioned in the Constitution
The United States Constitution makes no mention of an official language. While English is the most widely spoken language in the country and is often assumed to be the official language, this is not the case. In fact, there have been efforts to establish other languages as the official language, such as German in 1795, and Illinois even declared "American" as its official language in 1923.
The absence of an official language in the Constitution has led to ongoing debates and efforts to establish English as the official language. Almost every session of Congress, an amendment is proposed to adopt English as the official language. There have also been attempts to change the U.S. Code to make English the official language. These efforts are often driven by the idea that having a single official language will promote unity and a shared American culture.
However, there is also opposition to establishing a national official language. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has published a paper outlining its opposition to this idea. They argue that English-only laws can violate the U.S. Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection. For example, courts that do not offer translation services can violate the rights of non-English speakers.
Despite the ongoing debates, as of 2025, English has been designated as the official language of the United States through executive orders. These orders emphasize the role of English in promoting unity and a shared national identity. However, it's important to note that these executive orders do not require agencies to stop providing services or materials in languages other than English.
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Efforts to promote English as the official language
In 1923, a bill drafted by Congressman Washington J. McCormick proposed designating "American" as the national language to differentiate American English from British English. This bill did not succeed, but it marked a significant step in the movement towards establishing an official language. Illinois, notably, declared that its official language would be "American" in the same year, before reverting to English as its official language later on.
Support for the English-only movement, also known as the Official English movement, began in 1907 under President Theodore Roosevelt. The movement aims to establish English as the sole language for official government communication and has gained significant support over the years. In 1980, Dade County, Florida, passed an "anti-bilingual ordinance," removing Spanish signs from public transportation. In 1986, Larry Pratt founded English First, further advocating for the English-only cause.
Political organizations have also played a role in promoting English as the official language. U.S. English, founded in 1983 by U.S. Senator S. I. Hayakawa and John Tanton, is a lobbying organization that supports the Official English movement. Tanton also founded ProEnglish, which shares the same goal. These organizations believe that a single official language is essential for a unified and cohesive society, where citizens can freely exchange ideas in a shared language.
In 2025, an executive order was issued, finally declaring English as the official language of the United States. This order revoked Executive Order 13166, which had aimed to improve access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency. The 2025 order emphasized the promotion of unity, a shared American culture, consistent government operations, and civic engagement as reasons for establishing English as the sole official language.
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English-only laws help governments save money
While the United States Constitution does not mention an official language, English has been designated as the official language of the United States by an executive order issued in March 2025. This order revoked Executive Order 13166, which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 2000, and aimed to improve access to services for people with limited English proficiency.
The English-only movement, also known as the Official English movement, has been a topic of debate in the US for many years. While some argue that establishing English as the official language promotes unity and a shared American culture, others oppose it as a violation of the rights of non-English speakers.
Proponents of English-only laws argue that they help save tax dollars while promoting the unifying effect of English as the official language. For example, Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe from Pennsylvania sponsored an official-English measure, stating that it would "save tax dollars at the same time as promoting the unifying effect of English as the official language of the state." Similarly, an official-English group, ProEnglish, supported a community college student in Arizona who was suspended when she complained about classmates speaking Spanish during group work. They argued that the state's English law should have protected her from suspension.
In addition, supporters of English-only laws claim that they preserve cultural cohesion and offer immigrants economic mobility. They believe that learning English is the best way for new immigrants to succeed and integrate into American society.
On the other hand, critics argue that English-only laws can violate the US Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposes establishing a national official language, stating that such laws abridge the rights of non-English speakers and make life difficult for large non-English-speaking populations. For example, in Dade County, Florida, after an English-only law was passed in 1980, Spanish signs on public transportation were removed, limiting access to information for Spanish-speaking residents.
While the debate over English-only laws continues, it is important to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of such policies. Proponents argue that English-only laws promote unity and save government spending, while critics emphasize the potential violation of the rights of non-English speakers and the negative impact on their access to information and services.
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Illinois' statutes refer to the American language
While the United States Constitution does not mention or contemplate an official language, English was designated as the official language of the United States in an executive order on March 1, 2025. This decision was made to promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement.
Despite the recent designation of English as the official language of the United States, it is important to note that historically, various efforts have been made to promote English as the official language at the federal and state levels. For example, in 1923, Illinois officially declared that English would no longer be the official language of the state and instead adopted "American" as its official language. This decision was reflected in many of Illinois' statutes, which referred to "the American language." One example of such a statute is 225 ILCS 705/27.01.
However, it is worth mentioning that the official language of Illinois is now English (5 ILCS 460/20). The Illinois General Assembly website, which houses the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS), encourages visitors to use translation services available on the internet. Despite this, it emphasizes that the English language version of the website is always the official and authoritative version.
The shift from English to "American" as the official language in Illinois in 1923 may have been influenced by similar efforts at the federal level to promote English as the official language. These efforts aimed to streamline communication, reinforce national values, and create a more cohesive society. Additionally, English-only laws were seen as a cost-saving measure for governments by reducing translation and printing expenses for official documents.
In conclusion, while Illinois once referred to "the American language" in its statutes, the state has since reverted to English as its official language. The United States as a whole also recently designated English as its official language, despite the absence of any mention of an official language in the Constitution. These decisions highlight the ongoing evolution of language policies in the United States and the importance placed on unity, efficiency, and shared cultural values.
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German almost became the official language in 1795
The United States Constitution does not mention or contemplate an official language. While English is widely assumed to be the country's official language, the United States has no official language. In fact, there have been efforts to establish an official language other than English.
One notable example is the story of German almost becoming the official language in 1795. This story has been passed down for centuries, with many believing that Congress nearly approved German as the official language, except for one vote by its German-speaking leader, Frederick Muhlenberg. However, this story is a myth, as there was never a vote or a bill to establish German as the official language.
The closest Congress came to considering this issue was on January 13, 1795, when they debated a proposal to print federal laws in German as well as English. The House debated this proposal without reaching a decision, and a vote to adjourn and consider the recommendation later was defeated by one vote, 42 to 41. On February 16, 1795, the House debated translating federal statutes into German again, but ultimately approved a bill to publish existing and future federal statutes in English only. This bill was signed into law by President George Washington.
The persistence of the story about German becoming the official language can be attributed to various factors. German authors of travel literature in the 1840s popularized this imagined decision, and it was later propagated by some American teachers of German and German teachers of English. Additionally, the story has been used by opponents of bilingualism and proponents of English-only legislation to warn about the threat of other languages to English in the United States.
While German did not become the official language, it is important to note that efforts to establish English as the official language have faced opposition. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has published a paper detailing how such a move could violate the U.S. Constitution's protection of due process and equal protection. Additionally, English-only laws have been criticized for abrogating the rights of non-English speakers and creating difficulties for large non-English speaking populations.
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Frequently asked questions
English. On March 1, 2025, an executive order designated English as the official language of the United States.
No. In fact, the US Constitution does not mention an official language.
English was chosen as the official language to promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement.
There are stories that in 1795, German almost became the official language of the US. However, these stories are likely not true.
The implications include prohibiting Members of Congress or any federal government officials from communicating unofficially in any language other than English while performing official functions.
