Simone Lawson
Constitution Day, celebrated annually on September 17, commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Also known as Constitution and Citizenship Day, it recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and celebrates the rights and freedoms it established for We the People. The day also acknowledges those who have become U.S. citizens and encourages civic engagement and literacy. Constitution Day is an important reminder of the legacy of liberty and the democratic values that form the foundation of the American government and society.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 September |
| Year | 1787 |
| Event | Signing of the U.S. Constitution |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Number of Signatories | 39 |
| Total Number of Delegates | 55 |
| Type of Document | Four-page document |
| Frequency of Celebration | Annual |
| Date of Official Designation | 29 February 1952 |
| Proponent of Constitution Day | Olga T. Weber |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
Constitution Day, or Citizenship Day, is an American federal holiday that commemorates the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The document was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, out of a total of 55, during their last meeting. This four-page document established the framework of the US government and the rights and freedoms that "We the People" enjoy today.
The US Constitution has survived many crises and tests, including the Civil War. It was also the first governing document of the newly formed United States of America. The Constitution was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787, with delegates arguing about issues such as the relationship between the central government and the states, the relationship between the states, and the role of the citizen in the new government. The arguments over the regulation of commerce and slavery were particularly heated.
Constitution Day was established in 1952 by President Harry Truman, replacing "I Am an American Day", which had been celebrated on the third Sunday in May since 1940. The holiday was originally proposed by Olga T. Weber, a resident of Louisville, Ohio, who is credited with getting the holiday national recognition. In August 1953, Weber took her case to the United States Senate, which passed a resolution designating September 17–23 as Constitution Week. The week begins with Constitution Day and ends with Citizenship Day.
In 2004, an amendment was passed by Senator Robert Byrd to the omnibus spending bill, which modified the law establishing the holiday. The amendment included the "Constitution Day clause", which mandated the teaching of the Constitution in schools that receive federal funding, as well as in federal agencies.
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The document was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787
Constitution Day, or Citizenship Day, is celebrated on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The document was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 and established the government of the United States.
The Constitution was created by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, who met to revise the Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the newly formed United States of America. It became clear that a new form of government was needed, and so, in great secrecy, they debated issues such as the relationship between the central government and the states, the relationship between the states themselves, and the role of the citizen in the new government. Arguments over the regulation of commerce and slavery were particularly heated.
The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates attending the convention. This influential document established the framework of the U.S. government and the rights and freedoms that "We the People" enjoy today. It begins with the famous words:
> "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Constitution Day celebration recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens. It is a day to reflect on the legacy of liberty left by the Founding Fathers and to participate in activities, learning, parades, and demonstrations celebrating American freedom.
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The signing of the document took place in Philadelphia
The Constitutional Convention began in May 1787 and lasted four months. During this time, the delegates drafted a plan for a new form of republican government to replace the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation. George Washington presided over the Convention, which featured many great minds of the day, including James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. Notable absences included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and John Hancock.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, was distilled from 23 approved articles by a Committee of Style and Arrangement. This committee included Alexander Hamilton from New York, William Samuel Johnson from Connecticut, Rufus King from Massachusetts, James Madison from Virginia, and Gouverneur Morris from Pennsylvania. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus.
On the last day of the convention, Benjamin Franklin, in his final great speech, made a motion to sign the document. Franklin, in poor health at 81 years old, asked James Wilson to read his speech to the other delegates. In the speech, Franklin acknowledged his own reservations about the Constitution but ultimately accepted it, stating, "I am not sure I shall never approve them... I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best." Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the document.
Following Franklin's speech, a debate ensued, with Hugh Williamson from North Carolina objecting to the idea of signing the document. He proposed that a letter should accompany the document when sent to Congress in New York, as it "would be found satisfactory to some members who disliked the Constitution." Williamson was referring to three delegates—Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph—who ultimately refused to sign the final document. Despite this objection, Franklin's motion to sign the document was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
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The US Constitution established the government of the United States
Constitution Day, celebrated annually on September 17, commemorates the signing of the US Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. This document, drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787, established the government of the United States.
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It consists of seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
Articles IV, V, and VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment. Article VII establishes the procedure used by the 13 states to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitution also establishes extradition between the states and lays down a legal basis for freedom of movement and travel among them. The Territorial Clause gives Congress the power to make rules for disposing of federal property and governing non-state territories. Additionally, the fourth section of Article Four requires the United States to guarantee each state a republican form of government and protect them from invasion and violence.
Courts established by the Constitution can regulate government actions under the Constitution, which is considered the supreme law of the land. Federal courts may rule on whether branches of the national government conform to the Constitution. The Supreme Court decides on constitutional issues of state law on a case-by-case basis and only when there is a strict constitutional necessity.
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Constitution Day is also known as Citizenship Day
The holiday was first celebrated as "I Am an American Day" in 1940, on the third Sunday in May. It was promoted by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, and featured a 16-minute film of the same name in American theatres. By 1949, governors of 48 states had issued Constitution Day proclamations.
In 1952, resident Olga T. Weber petitioned municipal officials in Louisville, Ohio, to establish Constitution Day, in honour of the creation of the US Constitution in 1787. Mayor Gerald A. Romary proclaimed September 17, 1952, as Constitution Day in the city. Weber then requested that the Ohio General Assembly proclaim September 17 as statewide Constitution Day, which was signed into law by Governor Frank J. Lausche. In August 1953, the United States Senate passed a resolution designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week. The resolution was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is celebrated through activities, learning, parades, and demonstrations of love for the United States and the blessings of freedom. Schools and government agencies join in observing the holiday, with federal courts offering educational resources and experiences in their communities. Reciting the Preamble to the US Constitution in unison has also become a tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17 because it was on this day in 1787 that the U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Constitution is the most influential document in American history. It established the framework of the U.S. government and the rights and freedoms that "We the People" enjoy today.
In 1940, Congress created "I Am an American Day" to be celebrated on the third Sunday in May. On February 29, 1952, President Harry Truman signed into law "'Citizenship Day', replacing "I Am an American Day". Louisville, Ohio, credits itself for getting the holiday national recognition after resident Olga T. Weber petitioned municipal officials to establish Constitution Day.
Constitution Day is celebrated through activities, learning, parades, and demonstrations of love for the United States of America and the blessings of freedom that the Founding Fathers secured. Schools, colleges, and universities across the U.S. also celebrate Constitution Day by making copies of the Constitution available to students.
