Q&A: Bill of Rights Day

Q: What are some ways you work to reinforce civic engagement?

A: As a public leader and elected member of Congress, I strive to strengthen our system of self-government by fostering dialogue with Iowans every chance I get. This year I completed my 99 county meetings across the state for the 43^rd year in a row. Meeting with people eyeball to eyeball makes tangible connections that in recent years have been diminished in the age of social media. Face to face meetings help uphold the public trust between officeholders and the people we represent. I put in the work to gather feedback and listen to Iowans to ensure they know I care and will bring their views and values to the policymaking table in Washington, D.C. One of the most common concerns I hear about in my county meetings is the decline in civility in society and the perception that Americans are irrevocably divided along ideological, regional and political lines. Direct engagement helps peel back the digital curtain on social media and chip away at layers of isolation normalized by the pandemic.

Civic engagement is a cornerstone of our republic and that’s why civic education is paramount to sustain and strengthen the United States of America. I encourage parents to talk to their children about current events around the kitchen table. Growing up, I soaked up these conversations and it inspired my interest in government and world affairs. For example, the rise in anti-Semitism and surveys showing waning belief about the Holocaust are alarming. I often hear people say they avoid talking about religion and politics at gatherings with family and neighbors. That’s a shame.

Earlier this month, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor passed away. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, she was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and the first nominee I voted for as a U.S. Senator. A few years after she stepped down from the high court, Justice O’Connor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Among other issues, she discussed the independence of the federal judiciary and importance of civic education. Her commitment to civic education is a legacy that will strengthen America’s promise for years to come.

An educated citizenry is vital to preserve our free society and way of life. That’s why I make it a priority to engage our next generation of leaders. Every year, I hold Q&A’s with students at roughly half-dozen or so high schools and I’ve hosted a series of forums for young people to learn more about the federal judiciary. I’m thrilled to meet with young people who travel to the nation’s capital to learn more about government. In addition, my office offers internship opportunities throughout the year to provide college age students the opportunity to get hands-on work experience on Capitol Hill or in one of my six state offices. I often tell students they have a choice. They can either help govern, or be governed. As Benjamin Franklin remarked in Philadelphia after the signing of the Constitution in 1787, we have a republic, if we “can keep it.”

Q: What is Bill of Rights Day?

A: On December 15, 1791, four years after 39 delegates signed the U.S. Constitution, three-fourths of the existing state legislatures ratified the first 10 amendments of the Constitution. These are known as the Bill of Rights. Indeed, the Constitution may never have been ratified if the framers didn’t promise to add a Bill of Rights to enshrine individual freedoms in the nation’s founding charter to empower the people and limit government powers. These protections uphold cherished blessings of individual freedom that make Americans the most free in the world. More than 230 years since the Bill of Rights was ratified, Americans in the 21^st century are guaranteed freedoms of speech, religion, press, petition and assembly, as well as the right to bear arms, freedom from unreasonable searches, ownership of private property, due process, a trial by impartial jury and more. Importantly, the ninth amendment clarifies the Bill of Rights is not an exhaustive list of freedoms, and the 10^th amendment enshrines federalism in the Constitution. That means the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the states, or to the people.

As we observe Bill of Rights Day and celebrate the holiday season, don’t let political disagreements destroy what binds us together as Americans. We are united by an idea, not by politics, creed, ethnicity or monarchy. Honoring the service and sacrifice of those who defend our hard-fought freedoms and appreciating the identity we share in our nation’s founding principles will help bring Americans together as we answer the call to form a more perfect union.

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