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.

2024 Celebration

Envisioning Justice: Mass Incarceration and the Constitution

In 2024, Constitution Day was celebrated on September 17, with a special event from 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Brown Ballroom in the Bone Student Center. Guest speaker LeTina Brady Pettis discussed the importance of the youth vote and her work around establishing National Teen Voter Registration Day. The talk was followed by a group discussion.

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

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.