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Back to Commemorative Observations

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Overview | Legislative Branch Documents | Executive Branch Documents | Journal Articles| Web Resources

Overview

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.”

This commemoration had its origin in 1940, when Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing and requesting the President to issue annually a proclamation setting aside the third Sunday in May for the public recognition of all who had attained the status of American citizenship. The designation for this day was “I Am An American Day.”

In 1952 Congress repealed this joint resolution and passed a new law moving the date to September 17 to commemorate “the formation and signing, on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution of the United States” but the day was designated “Citizenship Day” and also retained its original purpose of recognizing all those who had attained the status of American citizenship.

The law urged civil and educational authorities of States, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.”

In 2004, Congress changed the designation of this day to “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” and also added two additional provisions: first, that the head of each federal agency provide each new employee with educational and training materials concerning the Constitution and also provide such materials to every employee on September 17 of each year; and second, that each educational institution that receives Federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution for students on September 17 of each year.

Legislative Branch Documents

Joint Resolution 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, Chapter 183, 54 Stat. 178, May 3, 1940.

Joint Resolution designating September 17 of each year as “Citizenship Day,” Chapter 49, 66 Stat. 9, February 29, 1952.

Public Law 105-225, 112 Stat. 1253 Sec. 106, August 12, 1998, currently codified in 36 USC 106.

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, Div. J, Title I, Section 111, Dec. 8, 2004, currently codified in 36 USC 106.

Executive Branch Documents

Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders have been used by presidents to rule on substantive issues of law; to administrate the executive branch of government; and to make general announcements to the public. These general announcements which exhort the public to observe a holiday such as Thanksgiving or honor a particular group of citizens as in National Black History Month are usually issued in the form of a Presidential Proclamation. On many occasions Congress will pass a law specifically requesting the President to take certain action such as proclaiming the recognition of a particular group of citizens such as Jewish or Hispanic Americans.

1952 - President Truman proclaims the first Citizenship Day, Proclamation 2984, July 25, 1952, 17 FR 6931.

1955 - President Eisenhower proclaims the first Constitution Week, Proclamation 3109, August 19, 1955, 20 FR 6209.

2005 - Notice of Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each Year. 70 Fed. Reg. 29727.

Example Presidential Proclamations:

2000 - President William J. Clinton’s Proclamation 7343, Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, Sep. 17, 2000, 65 Fed. Reg. 56771.

2007 - President George W. Bush’s Proclamation 8168, celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and proclaiming Constitution Week, Aug. 21, 2007, 72 Fed. Reg. 48931.

Presidential Proclamations for the annual observances of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day can be browsed through the American Presidency Project by selecting the year and clicking on the Display button.

Presidential Proclamations from 1995 to the present for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day may also be searched through the Government Printing Office’s Federal Register Advanced Search page.

Presidential statements, messages, remarks and proclamations from 1993 to the present about Constitution Day and Citizenship Day may also be found through the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents page.

Journal Articles

Address Made by President Ranson, Constitution Day Address, 21 A.B.A. J. 644 (1935)

Walter Evans, Constitution Day, 3 Const. Rev. 16 (1919) [PDF/ 184Kb]

Constitution Day, September Seventeenth, 3 Const. Rev. 181 (1919) [PDF/ 198Kb]

The Observance of Constitution Day, 4 Const. Rev. 46 (1920) [PDF/ 134Kb]

Nathan Boone Williams, Constitution Day - September 17, 1951, 24 Rocky Mtn. L. Rev. 28 (1951-1952)

Web Resources

Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands - Constitution Day Made Easy
Bill of Rights Institute - Constitution Day
Center for Civic Education - Lessons for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Government Printing Office ACCESS - Constitution Main Page

Library of Congress:

National Constitution Center - Constitution Day
National Endowment for the Humanities - Constitution Day
Office of Personnel Management - Constitution Initiative
U.S. Department of Education - U.S. Constitution Teaching and Learning Resources

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

U.S. Senate - The Constitution

Last Updated: 01/02/2009