In the United States the Constitution Day which is also known as the Constitution and Citizenship Day is celebrated annually on 17th September.
This day commemorates the adoption of the US constitution as on this day only in 1787 when a delegate under the Constitution Convention signed a document in Philadelphia which laid the foundation of the US constitution and recognized the US citizenship to the people.
This day is very important in US history and hence it is also declared as a public holiday in the country. When Constitution Day falls on a weekend or on another holiday, schools and other institutions observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday.
| Event | Constitution Day |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 2022 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Significance | The day honors the adoption of the US Constitution, which happened only on this day in 1787 |
| Observed by | United States |
Constitution Day History:
After the American Revolution freed the American colonies from British rule, the Founding Fathers wanted to make sure the new government which is gonna be formed couldn’t abuse its power. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, delegates from twelve of the thirteen new states gathered to draft the document that would serve as the basis of all future U.S. laws.
Delegates at the Convention had two options for setting up the framework of the new legislative branch. The Virginia Plan, which was supported by larger states, called for representation based on population. The competing New Jersey Plan called for equal representation for each state. This led to the two-house solution known as the Great Compromise which combined the aspects of both plans and is still in use today.
The Founding Fathers also recognized that society evolves with time, so the Constitution would require a mechanism for making changes. However, they wanted to ensure that making changes would require agreement from a large number of states. So to alter the constitution through amendments must require three-fourths of the states support.
In 1940, Congress and the President passed a resolution creating “I Am an American Day,” observed on the third Sunday in May. In 1952, the holiday was renamed to “Constitution Day” and moved to September 17 to commomerote the day in 1787 when the Constitution was signed. More than 50 years later in 2004, Congress once again changed the name of the holiday to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and since then it is being followed.
Constitution Day Importance:
The Constitution was written in about four months in the summer of 1787. The Constitution calls for three branches of government with equal powers, creating a system commonly known as “checks and balances.” Each branch has power to mitigate the others. Powers not assigned to one of the three branches are left to the individual states.
The Constitution also outlines the responsibilities and powers of the judicial and executive branches to function in the country, how the President is elected, and all the other details which are basically required for running the country. And it has some laws which are mandatory for all the country but also gives a provision to states to make their own laws.
And the Constitution was very carefully created by the Founding Fathers of the country by thinking of all the things as they were subjugated under British monarchy so they realized that power should never fall in to the hands of one man ever as a dictatorship and the US must always remain a democracy.
Along with that they also wrote Constitution in such a way to hold all the democratic values and to give people rights and it also mandated the government to always respect the human rights in the country and for that they created a check and balance type form of government. They also thought about the future and amendments process into constitution was introduced.
Constitution Day Activities:
How familiar are you with our nation’s most important document? If your answer is “not very much or not at all” then there are many resources that will help you read and know all about the Constitution and as a responsible and aware citizen of the country you must be aware of all the laws in the country and also about your rights as a citizen.
As it is said that US is a land of opportunity and that's why every year US witnesses the most immigrant inflow than any country in the world. So do you know anyone who has just passed his citizenship test and from immigrant now has become full American citizen so this is a day to congratulate him/her and also educate about constitution to him/her.
Well there are many laws in the country obviously we can't remember all in our minds but sometimes unknowingly we do some things which can land us in trouble so knowing laws and your rights is very important. So for that we have pocket-sized constitution books, so do buy them and keep with you. Or you can also download any constitution app on your phone.
Most Searched FAQs on Constitution Day:
1. When is Constitution Day is celebrated?
In the United States, the Constitution Day is celebrated annually on 17th September.
2. How long did it take to write the constitution?
The Constitution was written in about four months in the summer of 1787.
3. When was the Bill of Rights added?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in December 1791.