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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Introduction | Legislative Branch Material | Executive Branch Material | Journal Articles| Web Resources

Introduction

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.” Originally entitled Citizenship Day, recent legislation has renamed the day as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The law urges civil and educational authorities of States, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.”

Legislative Branch Material

1940 - "I Am an American Day" celebrated on the third Sunday of May, Chapter 183, 54 Stat. 178, May 3, 1940.

1952 - The day is moved to September 17th and the name is changed to Citizenship Day, Chapter 49, 66 Stat. 9, February 29, 1952.

1998 – Public Law 105-225, 112 Stat. 1253 Sec. 106, August 12, 1998, currently codified in 36 USC 106, codifies and amends the law establishing Citizenship Day.

2004 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, Div. J, Title I, Section 111, Dec. 8, 2004, currently codified in 36 USC 106, amends Title 36 United States Code Section 106 to rename Citizenship Day as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The public law, but not the codification, also has two additional provisions: first, that the head of each federal agency provide each new employee with educational and training materials concerning the Constitution and also provide such materials to every employee on September 17 of each year; and second, that each educational institution that receives Federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution for students on September 17 of each year.

Executive Branch Material

1952 - President Truman proclaims the first Citizenship Day, Proclamation 2984, July 25, 1952, 17 FR 6931.

1955 - President Eisenhower proclaims the first Constitution Week, Proclamation 3109, August 19, 1955, 20 FR 6209.

2005 - Notice of Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each Year. 70 Fed. Reg. 29727.

2007 – President George W. Bush’s Aug. 21, 2007 Proclamation, Proclamation 8168, celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and proclaiming Constitution Week.

Journal Articles

Address Made by President Ranson, Constitution Day Address, 21 A.B.A. J. 644 (1935)
LC CALL NO. K1 .M385
Walter Evans, Constitution Day, 3 Const. Rev. 16 (1919)
LC CALL NO. JK1 .C7
Constitution Day, September Seventeenth, 3 Const. Rev. 181 (1919)
LC CALL NO. JK1 .C7
The Observance of Constitution Day, 4 Const. Rev. 46 (1920)
LC CALL NO. JK1 .C7
Nathan Boone Williams, Constitution Day - September 17, 1951, 24 Rocky Mtn. L. Rev. 28 (1951-1952)
LC CALL NO. K25 .N5695

Web Resources

Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands - Constitution Day Made Easy
Bill of Rights Institute - Constitution Day
Center for Civic Education - Lessons for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Government Printing Office ACCESS - Constitution Main Page

Library of Congress:

National Constitution Center - Constitution Day
National Endowment for the Humanities - Constitution Day
Office of Personnel Management - Constitution Initiative
U.S. Department of Education - Constitutional Resources

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

U.S. Senate - The Constitution

Last Updated: 01/02/2009