Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Constitution Day honors the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787 — one of the greatest achievements in the history of democratic self-government. On that day in Philadelphia, delegates to the Constitutional Convention affixed their signatures to a document that has governed the United States for nearly 250 years, protecting individual liberty and establishing the framework of republican government that Americans still live under today.

Citizenship Day, observed on the same date, honors all who have become Americans — by birth or by taking the oath of citizenship — and the rights and responsibilities that come with membership in this extraordinary republic.

The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia from May to September 1787. The delegates faced a daunting task: the Articles of Confederation had proven too weak. A stronger, more effective framework of government was needed.

James Madison arrived with a detailed plan. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the oldest delegate, lent wisdom and gravitas. Alexander Hamilton was among the most forceful advocates for a strong national government. George Washington presided over the proceedings with the authority of the nation's most trusted leader.

After months of debate, compromise, and revision, 39 of the 55 delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. It was ratified by the required nine states the following year and took effect in 1789. Congress established Constitution and Citizenship Day as a federal observance in 2004.

The United States Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in active use in the world. It has guided the nation through the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the challenges of the 21st century. Its framework of separated powers, checks and balances, and individual rights has protected American liberty for nearly 240 years.

Constitution Day invites Americans to appreciate this remarkable achievement — and to understand that constitutional government is not self-sustaining. It requires citizens who know and respect the Constitution, who participate in civic life, and who take seriously the responsibilities that come with self-government.

By law, all schools and universities receiving federal funding are required to hold Constitution Day educational programming. Many communities host naturalization ceremonies, welcoming new Americans into the republic. Libraries, civic organizations, and museums offer programs about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and American citizenship.

The National Archives in Washington, D.C. — where the original Constitution is on permanent display — holds special events, and naturalization ceremonies are conducted at courthouses and historic sites across the country. It is a day to celebrate both the document and the people who choose to live under it.

The Constitution has governed the United States for nearly as long as the nation has existed. As America marks 250 years, Constitution Day invites citizens to appreciate the genius of the Founders who designed this enduring framework of self-government — and to reflect on the civic responsibility every American has to understand, honor, and defend it.

The fact that the same constitutional framework established in 1787 is still governing the world's oldest democracy in 2026 is itself one of the most remarkable achievements in human history.