September 17 was Constitution and Citizenship Day – a moment to reflect not just on history, but on the responsibilities that come with being an American citizen.
The story of this day goes back to 1940, when Congress first created “I Am an American Day.” Later, in 1952, it was renamed “Constitution Day” and moved to September 17, the date the Constitution was signed in 1787. In 2004, Congress recognized that the holiday should honor both the Constitution and citizenship, giving us today’s civic holiday.
At the heart of this celebration is the Constitution itself – a framework that both empowers and limits government, while protecting the rights of the people. The Founders understood that unchecked power could threaten liberty. That’s why they divided authority among three branches of government, embedding checks and balances into the Constitution from the very beginning…