Constitution Day

Constitution Day is celebrated each year on September 17 to commemorate the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution. The day was originally proposed by the Daughters of the American revolution with the purpose of informing people about the constitution of America’s heritage, encouraging the study of historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution, and emphasizing citizen responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution. In 1956, President Eisenhower signed into law Constitution Week which runs September 17–23, to commemorate the ratification of the Constitution.

Any educational institution that receives federal funding is required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution for its students.

2025 Celebration

In 2024, Constitution Day was celebrated on September 17, with a special event from 4 to 5 pm. in the Circus Room of the Bone Student Center. Guest speaker Jason Mazzone, Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law, discussed the The United States Constitution and Political Polarization a blurb for the presentation is provided below. The talk was followed by a robust Q&A session.

This event was sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement, and the Leadership Education and Development Unit of the Dean of Students Office.

Talk Description: Virtually every issue that divides Americans today—gun control, abortion, policing, immigration, voting, racial equality—has a constitutional dimension. Routine constitutionalization of political and social problems sets the U.S. apart from other polarized democracies. On both sides of divisive issues, Americans invoke the Constitution as supporting their own views, even as most know little about its actual provisions. Americans also increasingly view judges engaged in constitutional interpretation as either on the side of right or wrong.

Antidotes to polarization—reasoned discourse, a search for common ground, respect for differences—are nearly impossible to achieve when people believe they have a corner on constitutional truth and diverging perspectives are therefore false, even un-American.

National Constitution Day Conversations

All members of the Illinois State community are encouraged to participate in the American Democracy Project's National Constitution Day Conversations.  Designed to reach across differences, this event creates space for open discussion of the U.S. Constitution. This national facilitated dialogue is based on the fundamental value of the pursuit of knowledge for the public good. A recording of the latest webinar is available online.

Also stop by the Center for Civic Engagement anytime for a copy of the pocket Constitution.