Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an American federal observance that commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of the United States and those who have become United States citizens. This day is observed each year on September 17. On this day members of the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.
The convention lasted from May 25 to September 17, 1787. During that time, the 55 delegates debated the duties of the government, checks, and balances, and the rights and freedoms of the people. They divided the government into three branches: the legislative branch to make the laws; the executive to execute the laws, and the judicial to interpret the laws.
The delegates suffered through rough weather, heat, and illness. Despite the conditions, the formed a Bill of Rights enumerating rights and freedoms of the people.
Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and George Washington all signed the Constitution.
- The U.S. Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries.
- Some of the original framers and many delegates in the state ratifying conventions were very troubled that the original Constitution lacked a description of individual rights. In 1791, Americans added a list of rights to the Constitution. The first ten amendments became known as The Bill of Rights
- The original Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping.
- More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Thirty three have gone to the states to be ratified and twenty seven have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution.
- The U.S. Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest written Constitution of any major government in the world.
- Of the spelling errors in the Constitution, “Pensylvania” above the signers’ names is probably the most glaring
- The Constitution was “penned” by Jacob Shallus, A Pennsylvania General Assembly clerk, for $30 ($830 today).
- The first time the formal term “The United States of America” was used was in the Declaration of Independence.
- The word “democracy” does not appear once in the Constitution.
- Three Latin phrases appear in the Constitution: pro tempore, ex post facto, and habeas corpus.
Citizenship
Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, citizenship is defined as “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Secretary of State William Seward proclaimed the amendment ratified on July 28, 1868.
While the 14th Amendment was the first step in a long line of amendments defining citizens and their rights, it took decades to enforce some of those rights.
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