Mr. Hector Gonzalez, Assistant Librarian at the Board of Circulation and Journal of the University of East Carolina Campus, continues to present exhibitions of printed material on various topics. The theme selected for the month of August, Educating for peace , highlighted Peace Games Collection of Teaching Cooperative Publishing (2006), authored by Peace Games.
"Peace Games Collection presents teachers of civic education curriculum to varying degrees, capable of exercising leadership positive in their schools and communities. The program seeks to build knowledge relations skills and opportunities for participation that young people need to be effective peacemakers, through the use of games, literature and art projects and community service they provide an opportunity to practice and apply skills such as communication, cooperation, conflict resolution and participation. "
We the people - Constitution Day - September 17, 2010
For those users who our visitors and members of the university community interested in historical subjects, the University of East Carolina exhibits several printed works on the history of the United States. The exhibition We the people is being presented in the Library Room Reference.
Congress The Library of America has published on its Web Law Library of Congress the following information. Overview
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is Observed Each Year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and "Recognize All who, by coming of age or by naturalization, Have Become Citizens."
This commemoration HAD ITS origin in 1940, when to Congress Passed a joint resolution Authorizing and Requesting the President to issue annually a proclamation setting aside the third Sunday in May for the public recognition of all who had attained the status of American citizenship. The designation for this day was “I Am An American Day.”
In 1952 Congress repealed this joint resolution and passed a new law moving the date to September 17 to commemorate “the formation and signing, on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution of the United States” but the day was designated “Citizenship Day” and also retained its original purpose of recognizing all those who had attained the status of American citizenship. This law urged civil and educational authorities of States, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.”
In 2004 under Senator Byrd's urging, Congress changed the designation of this day to "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day" and added two new requirements in the commemoration of this Day. The first is that the head of every Federal agency provide each employee with educational and training materials concerning the Constitution on September 17th. The second is that each education institution which receives Federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution for students on September 17 of each year.
Legislative Branch Documents
Joint Resolution authorizing the President of the United States of America to proclaim I Am An American Citizenship Day, for the recognition, observance, and commemoration of American citizenship, Chapter 183, 54 Stat. 178, May 3, 1940.
Joint Resolution designating September 17 of each year as “Citizenship Day,” Chapter 49, 66 Stat. 9, February 29, 1952.
Public Law 105-225, 112 Stat. 1253 Sec. 106, August 12, 1998, currently codified in 36 USC 106.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, Div. J, Title I, Section 111, Dec. 8, 2004, currently codified in 36 USC 106.
Executive Branch Documents
Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders have been used by presidents to rule on substantive issues of law; to administrate the executive branch of government; and to make general announcements to the public. These general announcements which exhort the public to observe a holiday such as Thanksgiving or honor a particular group of citizens as in National Black History Month are usually issued in the form of a Presidential Proclamation. On many occasions Congress will pass a law specifically requesting the President to take certain action such as proclaiming the recognition of a particular group of citizens such as Jewish or Hispanic Americans.
1952 - President Truman proclaims the first Citizenship Day, Proclamation 2984, July 25, 1952, 3 C.F.R. 164 (1947-1953).
1955 - President Eisenhower proclaims the first Constitution Week, Proclamation 3109, August 19, 1955, 3 C.F.R. 56 (1954-1958).
2000 - President William J. Clinton’s Proclamation 7343, Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, Sep. 17, 2000, 3 C.F.R. 7343 (2000).
2005 - Notice of Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each Year. 70 Fed. Reg. 29727.
2009 - President Barack H. Obama's Proclamation 8418 celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and designating the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week published at 74 F.R. 48129.
Presidential Proclamations for the annual observances of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day can be browsed through the American Presidency Project by selecting the year and clicking on the Display button.
Presidential Proclamations from 1995 to the present for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day may also be searched through the Government Printing Office’s Federal Register Advanced Search page.
Presidential statements, messages, remarks and proclamations from 1993 to January 29, 2009 about Constitution Day and Citizenship Day may also be found through the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents page. Presidential statements, messages and remarks from January 20, 2009 to the present may be found through the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents page.
Journal Articles
Address Made by President Ranson, Constitution Day Address, 21 A.B.A. J. 644 (1935)
The Observance of Constitution Day, 4 Const. Rev. 46 (1920) [PDF/ 134Kb]
Nathan Boone Williams, Constitution Day - September 17, 1951, 24 Rocky Mtn. L. Rev. 28 (1951-1952)
Web Resources
Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands - Constitution Day Made Easy
Bill of Rights Institute - Constitution Day
Center for Civic Education - Lessons for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Government Printing Office ACCESS - Constitution Main Page
Library of Congress:
Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention Broadsides Collection
Constitution Day Resources (THOMAS)
Federalist Papers (THOMAS)
Primary Documents in American History - United States Constitution
United States: The Constitution
National Constitution Center - Constitution Day
National Endowment for the Humanities - Constitution Day
Office of Personnel Management - Constitution Initiative
U.S. Department of Education - U.S. Constitution Teaching and Learning Resources
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:
Charters of Freedom Teaching with Documents - U.S. Constitution U.S. Senate Workshop - The Constitution
Last Updated: 09/13/2010
During the week of 17 - September 21 will be carried out in different locations in the United States the following events:
Press Release August 6, 2010
The National Archives Celebrates Constitution Day in September The home of the Original U.S. Constitution Holds Special Programs on September 17 and 21
Washington, DC ... In celebration of the 223rd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the National Archives presents a daylong schedule of special events and programs on September 17 (Constitution Day) and an evening panel discussion with constitutional scholars on September 21. These events are free and open to the public.
The National Archives has the original Constitution on permanent display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. Exhibit Hall hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m. daily, through September 7. Beginning Tuesday, September 8, hours are 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily, but closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Metro accessible on the yellow and green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial stop.
Friday, September 17—Constitution Day
1 p.m.–2 p.m. Happy Birthday, U.S. Constitution!
Location: Jefferson and Washington Conference Rooms
The first 223 guests will receive a piece of birthday cake and meet First Lady Dolley Madison as she describes White House entertainment in the early 19th century.
2:30 p.m. Dolley Madison
Location: William G. McGowan Theater Tony Award–winning actress Eve Best is Dolley Madison in the docudrama from PBS American Experience series. (2010; 60 minutes.)
Tuesday, September 21, at 7 p.m.—Panel Discussion
The State of the Constitution: What Every American Should Know
How much do the American people really understand about the Constitution of the United States?
William G. McGowan Theater
The National Archives Experience is pleased to host the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier for their 4th Annual Claude Moore Lecture. The Center for the Constitution has been conducting a nationwide survey of people in the United States to study the public’s understanding of American constitutional principles. The survey was developed with input from numerous constitutional scholars across the country, and tonight we reveal the results! The distinguished panel includes Constitution scholar Michael Meyerson, University of Baltimore School of Law; Chuck Quigley, executive director of the Center for Civic Education; and Cokie Roberts, senior news analyst for NPR. The panel will be moderated by Michael Quinn, president of the Montpelier Foundation.
For more information on National Archives programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online. The National Archives is fully accessible. If you need to request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please e-mail public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.
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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff and (202) 357-5300. 10-130
