Constitution Day became a national observance in 2004, when Senator Robert Byrd passed a bill designating September 17 as the day for citizens to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and learn more about our founding document. Senator Byrd once said, "Our ideals of freedom, set forth and realized in our Constitution, are our greatest export to the world." He added the Constitution Day clause to his 2004 federal spending bill because he believed that all citizens should know about their rights as outlined in the Constitution. This clause mandates the teaching of the Constitution in schools that receive federal funds.
The Constitution
On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history: the United States Constitution. This document established the framework of our government and the rights and freedoms that “We the People” enjoy today. In 2012, the National Constitution Center served as the national headquarters for the 225th anniversary of the Constitution’s signing.
Online Resources
Here are some great on-line resources to help you learn more about the Constitution.
- The Constitution
- Interactive Constitution
- The American Civil Liberties Union
- Bill of Rights Institute
- The Constitution: The Delicate Balance
- National Archive online feature
- Biographical sketches of the 39 signers of the constitution
And here are some light-hearted videos and quizzes about the Constitution
- School House Rock: No More Kings
- School House Rock: The Preamble
- Constitution Facts: Real or Fake?
- Constitution Facts: Quiz
Check out the official Constitution Day website or the Constitution Center's website.