Prepare for Constitution and
Citizenship Day

Educational institutions that receive federal funding are required to hold an educational program about the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year, commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. When September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week.

This Congressional initiative is authorized by Section 111 of Division J of Pub. L. 108-447, the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005,' Dec. 8, 2004; 118 Stat. 2809, 3344-45 (Section 111). The U.S. Department of Education has issued two Federal Registers on this topic:

For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Education:

400 Maryland Avenue, SW.
Room 4W218
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 205-9085
constitutionday@ed.gov

Below are some informational resources about the Constitution, several of which the Federal Register references. While Mapping Your does not endorse any of these programs or web sites, you might find them helpful when developing your program.

  • The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) has compiled a Constitution Day Implementation Guide.
  • The Library of Congress' repositories offer Constitutional documents and information. 
  • The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration offers Teaching with Documents: Observing Constitution Day, which includes links to a variety of resources, including: 
  • The National Constitution Center will offer educational and programming materials to schools, federal agencies, and other institutions nationwide to help them organize events to commemorate Constitution Day. These materials will be available at little or no cost on a new, under-construction website: www.constitutionday.us.
  • Constitution Day, Inc. is a nonprofit, non-political organization that has celebrated Constitution Day on a national tele-conference call for the past eight years. So that all schools may participate, they will celebrate Constitution Day on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 2 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Central.
  • Constitutional Rights Foundation is a nonprofit, non-partisan, community-based organization dedicated to educating America's young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society. The CRF web site offers online lessons.
  • The Teaching American History Institutes are federally funded programs to raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. They offer Internet lessons by education level for learning the Constitution.
  • National Public Radio's (NPR) award-winning series, Justice Talking, in collaboration with The New York Times Knowledge Network, the National Archives and Records Administration, and other sponsors, will broadcast two free programs that schools and educational organizations can use to complement their Constitution Day programs. Obtain information and register for the program.