Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest surviving written charter of government. The first Constitution Week was celebrated in 1952 when President Eisenhower signed it into law. It was originally petitioned for by the Daughters of America Revolution and was subsequently put into practice by President George W. Bush in 2002. Constitution Week is celebrated from September 17–23, with September 17 being Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first Constitution Week | September 17-23 |
| Year | 1952 |
| Day of the week | Monday |
| Date of signing the U.S. Constitution | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of adoption of the U.S. Constitution | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of the first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of the official implementation of the Constitution | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of the first presidential election | December 15, 1788-January 10, 1789 |
| First President | George Washington |
| First Vice President | John Adams |
| Date of the first Constitution Day | May 1940 |
| Founder of Citizenship Day | Mrs. A.B. (Clara) Vajda |
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What You'll Learn
The first Constitution Week was established by President Eisenhower in 1956
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. The date of September 17 was designated by the United States Congress in 1952, with the first Constitution Week established by President Eisenhower the following year. Constitution Day was first recognized by Iowa schools in 1911, and in 1917 a committee was formed by the Sons of the American Revolution to promote it, including members such as Calvin Coolidge and John D. Rockefeller.
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest surviving written charter of government. Its first three words, "We the People," affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The Constitution has remained in force for over two centuries due to its framers' wise separation and balance of governmental powers, safeguarding the interests of majority rule, minority rights, liberty, equality, and federal and state governments.
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Constitution Week is from September 17 to September 23
Constitution Week is an American observance that celebrates the adoption of the United States Constitution and recognises those who have become US citizens. It is observed from September 17 to September 23, with September 17 also being celebrated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified in 1788. It has been in operation since 1789 and is the world's longest-surviving written framework of government. The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government but ended up creating a new system, establishing a powerful central government. The Constitution was written to safeguard the interests of majority rule and minority rights, of liberty and equality, and of the federal and state governments.
The road to ratification was long and challenging. The country was previously governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young nation apart. Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document, and the Confederation Congress endorsed his initiative. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, and the Constitution was ratified in 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to approve it.
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a federal observance that was established by the United States Congress on February 29, 1952, by joint resolution (36 U.S.C. 106). It was originally petitioned for by the Daughters of America Revolution and was signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1956. The observance was later put into practice by President George W. Bush in 2002. Constitution Week, from September 17 to 23, is a time when USCIS encourages Americans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a US citizen.
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The first Constitution Day was celebrated in Iowa in 1911
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. The first three words, "We the People", affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.
Constitution Day, or Citizenship Day, is the US federal day of observance on September 17, recognizing the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become US citizens. The date was reaffirmed by President Donald Trump in 2017.
In 1952, Louisville, Ohio resident Olga T. Weber petitioned municipal officials to establish Constitution Day, in honor of the creation of the US Constitution in 1787. Mayor Gerald A. Romary proclaimed September 17, 1952, as Constitution Day in the city. The following April, Weber requested that the Ohio General Assembly proclaim September 17 as a statewide Constitution Day, which was signed into law by Governor Frank J. Lausche. In August 1953, she took her case to the United States Senate, which passed a resolution designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week.
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The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitution was crafted in response to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement authority and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. The young nation faced disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, prompting fears of collapse. Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented diverse interests and views, and they worked to create a powerful central government while also addressing concerns about centralized power and state loyalty. The resulting Constitution established a system of checks and balances, separating governmental powers into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Constitution was ratified in 1788 and came into operation in 1789, with George Washington elected as the first President. Over time, it has evolved through amendments to meet the changing needs of the nation. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 to address concerns about the protection of rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
To commemorate the signing of the Constitution, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are observed on September 17 each year, with the following week recognized as Constitution Week, from September 17-23. This period is designated for Americans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the significance of being a U.S. citizen.
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The U.S. Constitution has been in force since 1789
The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written framework of government. Its opening three words, "We the People", assert that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The Constitution has endured for over two centuries due to its framers' prudent division and balance of governmental powers, which safeguard the interests of majority rule, minority rights, liberty, equality, and federal and state governments.
The Constitution was born out of the fear that the young nation was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the authority to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the capacity to print money. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the fledgling country apart.
Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reassess the nation's governing document, and representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates, tasked with revising the existing government, ended up creating an entirely new one. Wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, they crafted a powerful central government, navigating compromises between wildly differing interests and views.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified by nine of the 13 states, with New Hampshire being the final state to approve it on June 21, 1788. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government, led by President George Washington and Vice President John Adams, took office on March 4, 1789. Since its inception, the Constitution has evolved through amendments to meet the changing needs of a nation profoundly different from the 18th-century world in which it was created.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Constitution Week was celebrated in 1956 after it was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Constitution Week is celebrated from September 17 to September 23.
Constitution Week is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens.
In 1952, resident Olga T. Weber petitioned municipal officials to establish Constitution Day, in honor of the creation of the US Constitution in 1787. Mayor Gerald A. Romary proclaimed September 17, 1952, as Constitution Day in Louisville, Ohio. In 1953, Weber took her case to the United States Senate, which passed a resolution designating September 17–23 as Constitution Week.
Constitution Week is significant because it recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution, which has served as the supreme law of the land for over 230 years, and it also celebrates those who have become U.S. citizens.
