Constitution Day

Constitution Day is September 17 — Resources to Help Your Institution Comply

All institutions receiving federal funding, including funding through the U.S. Department of Education, are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year (or in the preceding or following week if the date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday).

No federal funds are appropriated to implement this requirement, but many institutions make use of their own faculty to make appropriate presentations.

Here are Web sites to provide your school with useful materials:

Federal Register Web site announcing the requirement: http://www.wd.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-2/052405b.html

"Federal Resources for Educational Excellence" (FREE) – Contains the following resources, among many others, all at http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=19

• An "Interactive Constitution." It allows one to search the Constitution and find passages on 300 topics, with explanations.
• "Observing Constitution Day" – Features a discussion about the Constitutional Convention and the Constitution. Includes issues involved in the creation and ratification of the document.
• "United States Constitution" – Includes notes Washington wrote on his copy of the Constitution, his diary at the Constitutional Convention, Madison's notes on the debates, Jefferson's letter to Madison expressing his belief that a Bill of Rights was needed, and more.
• "Constitution Toolkit" – Includes images of newspaper articles (1787); notes Jefferson wrote on drafts of the Constitution; Jefferson 's chart of state votes (1788), and more.

Complying with Constitution Day – From the Web site of NASFAA

Contains the following, among other items, at http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/rconstitution083107.html

Excellent compilation of varied activities which institutions have created to celebrate and inform:

• A "Constitutional Alley" where students are encouraged to write opinions about Constitutional issues;
• Mounting large boards across campus for students to suggest additions and changes to the Constitution;
• Holding "Constitutional Jeopardy" game show-type events.

NASFAA has also publicized a list compiled by USA Funds, of universities that have created Web pages to describe what they do to comply with the law. Nine institutions are listed, from Azusa Pacific University to the University of South Carolina .

National Endowment for the Humanities - http://edsitement.neh.gov/ConstitutionDay/constitution_index2.html