The United States Constitution is not only one of the nation’s most essential foundational documents (alongside the Declaration of Independence), it is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government, detailing the supreme law of the land and emphasizing that the ultimate purpose of the U.S. government is to serve its people.
The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation: the U.S.’s first attempt to establish the principles of the country, written between 1776 and 1777, as the former colonies declared independence from Britain. They were active between 1781 and 1789, during which time the new U.S. government found them too weak to enact national policies or to properly handle systems such as taxation, trade, and regulation of the economy.
The Constitution was written and signed in 1787 by George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and a number of the country’s other Founding Fathers, ratified in 1788, and finally put into action in 1789. Since its inception, it has undergone 27 amendments, the first ten of which are collected in the Bill of Rights, which enshrine basic rights such as the right to free speech into American law.
Constitution Day was first celebrated locally, as a celebration of both the Constitution and of those who have become U.S. citizens; it coincides with Citizenship Day. (Knowledge of the Constitution and what it means in practice is often essential for those taking the test to become naturalized citizens.) In 2005, the Department of Education passed a law requiring that all publicly funded schools and other educational institutions in the United States teach lessons on the Constitution on this date.
Constitution Day is primarily observed in schools and other federal institutions, and while it is a federal observance, it is not a federal holiday. You can expect schools, businesses, transportation and government buildings to be operating on normal hours.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact us anytime at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay safe and healthy!
