LibGuides: Civic Engagement: Celebrate Constitution Day

About Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a federal observance celebrated every year on September 17. According to its founding legislation, they, "commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens." On this day, Americans are encouraged to reflect on the rights, responsibilities, and meaning of their citizenship.

Watch the video below for a short overview on the unlikely events that led to the adoption of the Constitution in 1787!

Read the Originals

As in research, going to the original source can often tell you more than any other commentary can. Check out these links to the original text of the Constitution, as well as several other foundational documents in American government and democracy.

Declaration of Independence
The first document of American independence, declaring permanent separation from Great Britain.
Articles of Confederation
The first frame of government for the United States, lasting only about ten years before being replaced by the stronger Constitution.
The Constitution
The basis for government for the United States, now well over 200 years old, is today the world's oldest constitution still in use.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights comprise the first ten amendments made to the Constitution, together outlining several fundamental rights and responsibilities of American citizens.
The Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote these essays arguing in favor of adopting the Constitution, which have since become oft referred-to commentaries on the principles of the Constitution.

Constitution and Citizenship Information

Constitution Facts
Learn about the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, Supreme Court, and other important American documents.
National Archives
Explore the National Archive's resources on the Constitution and other founding documents, including high-definition scans of the originals.
Interactive Constitution
Explore the text of the Constitution, line by line, with expert interpretations of the meaning of each clause and word choice.
Annotated Constitution
Hosted by Congress, this exploration of the text of the Constitution and its amendments breaks down its legal impact into plain English.
Modified Constitution
Want to see how the Amendments fit together with the original text in practice? This resource from CSPAN directly shows you what is modified by each amendment.
Amendments to the Constitution
The Constitution is a living document which has been amended more than 25 times since its adoption. Explore those amendments, and commentary on their impact on American government, here.
U.S. Government Citizenship Resource Center
Learn about the citizenship process and requirements. For those working through the process now, you can find information about preparing for the citizenship test.
Citizenship Practice Test
New immigrants must pass a civics test in order to become a US citizen. Do you think you would pass? Find out here!

The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism

Want to know even more about the Founding Era of American history and why the Constitution was adopted? This video gets into the nitty-gritty!

Civic Engagement: Celebrate Constitution Day

"We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words: 'We, the people.'"

Return next September to complete our Constitution Day Quiz!

About Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Read the Originals

Constitution and Citizenship Information

The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism

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