constitution

constitution

Constitution Day

Constitution Day

September 17 is Constitution Day, commemorating the day in 1787 that thirty-nine of the fifty-five delegates to the Federal Convention in a hot Philadelphia courthouse signed their great work.  Creating the Constitution for the United States, currently the oldest republic with power derived from the people, was an intricate work with very few historical precedents.  Not all of the delegates came in May of 1787 with the intention of building a new government (some hoped merely to reform the Articles of Confederation), but they came with remarkably little in the way of personal agendas or preconditions, remaining open to other arguments, in a manner almost inconceivable in today’s polarized environment.  They faced many divisions as severe as ours today, but … Continued
Celebrating the Constitution and Your Right to Vote

Celebrating the Constitution and Your Right to Vote

September 17, 1787 – Thirty-nine of our founding fathers, delegates of the Constitutional Convention, signed and put into effect the United States Constitution. The Constitution outlines the “checks and balances” of our three branches of government: Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. That was 233 years ago, and we continue to celebrate that achievement with Constitution Day on September 17, 2020. The celebration first started in 1940, as the “I Am an American Day,” based on a resolution passed by Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was observed on the third Sunday in May. In 1952, the name was changed to “Constitution Day” and moved to September 17th, to reflect the date it was originally signed back in 1787. In 2004, … Continued
Constitution Day

Constitution Day

Sunday was Constitution Day (sometimes called Citizenship Day), marking the anniversary in 1787, when 39 delegates in Independence Hall in Philadelphia signed the Constitution, bringing our form of representative democracy into being. It’s worth noting that, while our founders described the equality of “we the people” as being “self-evident”, in 1787 it was actually an open question. No similar government had ever yet succeeded. But because ours did, it has become a model for all similar governments founded since. Studying this historic document is a privilege of citizenship, and IU East is offering plenty of opportunities for doing just that. On Wednesday, September 20th, from 11 am to 2 pm in the lobby of Springwood Hall, there will be contests … Continued
Constitution Day: Celebration and Investigation

Constitution Day: Celebration and Investigation

The United States Constitution, the oldest and shortest written constitution in the world, was signed on September 17, 1787. To commemorate this event, we at IU East are celebrating Constitution Day with activities, a contest and, of course, learning. Constitution Day events will be held at the Graf on Monday, September 19th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. You can enjoy cider and donuts as you pick up your own copy of the Constitution, register to vote and enter a contest to win one of three cash prizes. What’s the contest? All you have to do is recite the Preamble to the Constitution anytime between now and the morning of September 19th and send the video to our Constitution Day … Continued
Why should YOU care?

Why should YOU care?

Why should you join the American Democracy Project and IU East in celebrating Constitution Week? During this time in a presidential election year, we are bombarded with ads on the television and radio, and endless talking heads with conflicting perspectives on the news. It can be difficult and time-consuming to follow the issues. One can feel so overwhelmed with everyday life that voting does not make it onto a list of priorities. Yet voting truly does have a direct effect on our everyday lives. The politicians you vote into office make decisions about your taxes, your health benefits, your schooling, transportation…virtually every aspect of your life is touched by the decision-makers that you elect. Understanding the tumultuous history of voting … Continued