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Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
While most Americans are aware of the significance of July 4, 1776, few recognize the importance of September 17, 1787. On this date the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time and The Constitution of the United States, internationally viewed as the finest expression ever made of the determination of a free people to govern themselves and to protect their liberty, was signed by 40 representatives of 12 of the original 13 American states at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By this act, the nation took the bold step toward "a more perfect Union" of government, and the United States was confirmed as a nation, as a people, and as a major force for democratic change within the world. The Constitution, with its 27 amendments, still defines the federal system of government and embodies the principles on which the United States was founded.
The United States Congress has declared September 17 as Constitution Day in order that Americans everywhere will be reminded of the significance of this document and the liberties which it preserves. If you want to know what makes you unique as an American, take a moment and read your Constitution on September 17. The document can be accessed electronically through the following link to the National Archives: www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html. Additional resources can be found on the Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html.