Q: What is Constitution Day?
A: On September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention signed the newly written Constitution of the United States of America. The anniversary of that momentous event is an opportunity to reflect on the principles our country is founded on and what it means to be an American. Constitution Day isn't a federal holiday, but it is designated by law as a federal observance. Its official name is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and in addition to commemorating the signing of the Constitution, it is intended to recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.
Q: What's so special about the U.S. Constitution?
A: The U.S. Constitution is unique in that it was designed to protect individual, God given rights based on timeless, universal principles, rather than simply to create a governmental system for a particular time and place. Our founding fathers were particularly concerned about tyrannical government because of the experience of the colonies under King George III. However, rather than simply replacing the King with a more benevolent monarch, the founders sought to establish a form of government that was designed for a free people where each citizen's liberty is protected. This goes beyond simply the right to vote for the individuals who govern. While democratic elections were seen as necessary to prevent a government from impinging on the rights of individual citizens, the founders were also well aware of the danger of 'tyranny of the majority' where pure majority rule can result in trampling on the rights of the minority. Instead, they designed a system of 'checks and balances' to prevent too much power from being amassed in one place. They also specified in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights the limits of governmental power and listed some of the most important rights possessed by citizens that the government shall not infringe. Thus, the founders' achievement we celebrate is not so much the creation of a government, but the creation of a framework in which free people in a free society can flourish.