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Useful Information

Constitution Day

Celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th!

Please visit the Glen Oaks Library on September 17th to celebrate the birthday of our United State of America Government!

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.

Since May of 1787, delegates had gathered in the State House (Independence Hall) of Philadelphia, PA, to revise the Articles of Confederation, the first governing documents of the United States of America as adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777.

After several months of debate and redrafting, delegates voted to design an entirely new framework for the government, the Constitution. After the Constitution was signed by members of the Continental Congress in September 1787, fierce debates ensued at the state level over issues such as the power of central government and states, and the process of electing representatives.

The Constitution was eventually ratified and took effect on June 21, 1788.

The Constitution Today

Today the constitution is housed at the National Archives and Records Administration on Constitution Ave NW [between 7th and 9th St.] in Washington, DC. You can visit the National Archives website for more information, hours, and directions.

Additional Resources:

US Constitution & Bill of Rights

Celebrate Constitution Day

United States Constitution

National Constitution Center

The Constitution Game

Historical Timeline of the United States Constitution

March 25-28, 1785: The Mount Vernon Conference: Representatives of Maryland and Virginia meet at George Washington’s plantation to resolve conflicts over the navigation of the Potomac and Pocomoke Rivers.
September 11-14, 1786: The Annapolis Convention: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia meet to discuss uniform trade regulations, but agree to appeal to all states to meet again to discuss broader reforms.
February 21, 1787: Congress approves convention to amend the Articles of the Confederation.
May 25, 1787: First Meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
May 29, 1787: Edmund Randolph proposes the Virginia Plan.
July 26, 1787: Constitution submitted to a Committee of Detail, who were appointed to prepare the first formal draft of the constitution.
August 6, 1787: First Draft of Constitution Presented to Convention.
September 17, 1787: All delegates, except Randolph, Mason, and Gerry, sign the Constitution.

Disclaimer:

This Congressional initiative is authorized by Section 111 of Division J of Pub. L. 108*447, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005,” Dec. 8, 2004; 118 Stat. 2809, 3344-45 (Section 111). The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement (Assistant Deputy Secretary) takes this action in order to implement this provision as it applies to education institutions receiving Federal funding from the Department. Section (1110 b states “each educational institution that receives Federal funds for the fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.” For purposes of the Department’s Implementation of this requirement, “educational institutions” includes but is not limited to “local educational agencies” and “Institutions of higher education” receiving Federal funding from the Department. Section 111 applies to all educational institutions receiving Federal funding, not only those receiving Federal funding from the Department. However, the Department’s authority only extends to those educational institutions receiving funding from the Department, and consequently the Department can only regulate to those institutions. Section 111 requires that Constitution Day be held on September 17 of each year, commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week. Section 111 does not authorize funds to carry out this requirement, and Section 111(d) indicates that this section shall apply “without fiscal year limitation.” Accordingly, the Assistant Deputy Secretary intends that this notice pertain to this fiscal year and all subsequent years.