Constitution Day
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
- Constitution Day Website
- National Archives News Website
- Interactive Constitution
- Bill of Rights Institute
- National Archive online feature
- Biographical sketches of the 39 signers of the constitution
- Constitution Facts: Real or Fake?
- Constitution Facts: Quiz
Constitution Day at Clark College is recognized annually on September 17. The Office of Student Life and the Associated Students of Clark College Student Government provide information to students online and display information in-person.