What is Constitution and Citizenship Day?

Constitution and Citizenship Day is a federal observance held each year on Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. The observance encourages Americans to learn about the Constitution and understand their civic rights, responsibilities and opportunities.

How does Colby Community College recognize Constitution Day?

Colby Community College’s H.F. Davis Library joins federal depository libraries across the nation in recognizing Constitution and Citizenship Day through educational activities and resources focused on the Constitution and civic participation.

For more information on Colby Community College Constitution Day activities, contact Savanna Baumgart at savanna.baumgart@colbycc.edu.

Background

On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA, signed the U.S. Constitution, beginning a process of state-by-state ratification that lasted until 1790. Nine states had to approve the Constitution to ratify it, and it was formally adopted on July 2, 1788, after the Confederation Congress learned that New Hampshire had ratified it.¹ Commemorations of the Constitution's signing date back to 1861, when residents of Philadelphia used the anniversary to publicly affirm their allegiance to the Union against the backdrop of the Civil War.² In 1887, President Grover Cleveland added presidential recognition to the commemoration by attending Philadelphia's centennial celebration of the Constitution's signing, referring to the "glorious promise of the Constitution through centuries to come" and remarking that "every American citizen should on this centennial day rejoice in his citizenship."³

A late 1930s campaign advocated by William Randolph Hearst to honor new citizens of the United States led to public celebrations of U.S. citizenship in some cities across the country.⁴ In Los Angeles, this celebration took the form of an event to advocate for a federal law establishing "I Am an American Day."⁵

On May 3, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a joint resolution making the third Sunday in May "I Am an American Citizenship Day."⁶ In his accompanying proclamation, Roosevelt described the purpose of the day to be so "the sovereign citizens of our Nation be prepared for the responsibilities and impressed with the significance of their status in our self-governing Republic."⁷

In 1952, I Am an American Citizenship Day was renamed to Citizenship Day, and the observance date was moved from May 3 to September 17 to coincide with the anniversary of the Constitution's signing.⁸ In 1956, September 17-25 was designated as Constitution Week.⁹

In November 2004, Congress renamed the September 17 observance to "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day" and directed educational institutions that receive federal funding to hold related educational programs.

Legislation

• H.J.Res. 437, 76^th Congress (1940): "Authorizing the President of the United States of America to proclaim I Am an American Citizenship Day, for the recognition, observance, and commemoration of American citizenship."
• P.L. 82-261 (1952): "Designating September 17 of each year as 'Citizenship Day.'"
• P.L. 84-915 (1956): "Authorizing the President of the United States to designate the period beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as Constitution Week."
• P.L. 108-447, Division J, Title I, §111, Stat. 3345 (2004): "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005." This act established the requirement that federal agencies and educational institutions receiving federal funds provide an educational program on the U.S. Constitution on September 17 and changed the name of the observance to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
• 70 Federal Register 29727 (May 24, 2005): "Notice of Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each Year." To implement the above provision of P.L. 108-447, the Department of Education issued this notice informing the qualifying institutions of this new educational requirement, along with lists of educational resources.
• 36 U.S.C. 106: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.