Constitution Day Initiative

Every year, Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. JMC’s Constitution Day Initiative leverages this congressionally-sanctioned national holiday to enhance constitutional literacy through campus lectures, public events, and popular media.

Engaging students and the public in the meaning and role of the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution Day marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Initially celebrated as “I am an American Day” in May, it was moved to September 17 in the 1950s and renamed “Citizenship Day.” In 2004, Congress officially designated September 17 as Constitution Day, requiring public schools and government offices to promote constitutional literacy.

The Jack Miller Center honors this important national holiday by funding educational lectures nationwide, furthering its mission of civic literacy, and encouraging citizens to learn about the nation’s origins.

Find a JMC Scholar for your Constitution Day event

The Jack Miller Center’s scholarly network brings top scholarship on the American political tradition, history, and constitutional law into pressing conversations about modern politics.

If you are interested in working with one of our scholars for a speaking engagement or media commentary, contact us today at media@gojmc.org.

Meet Our Scholars

Learn more about our Constitution Day Initiative

Every year, Constitution Day marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Although Independence Day and Presidents’ Day were marked as such for many years, it was not until 1940 that the seeds of a Constitution Day were planted. “I am an American Day” was celebrated on the third Sunday of May and celebrated American citizenship. The holiday quickly gained popularity across the United States and the date was changed to September 17 during the 1950s to better reflect the origins of American citizenship. The name of the day also became the simpler “Citizenship Day.”

It was not until 2004 that Congress designated September 17 as Constitution Day alongside the existing Citizenship Day. This designation required all public schools and government offices to hold educational programming to promote constitutional literacy.

The Jack Miller Center honors this important date every year by funding educational lectures across the country. These lectures further the Center’s mission of civic literacy and encourage citizens to learn more about our country’s origins.

September 9, Skidmore College: “A Tale of Two Liberalisms: Desegregating American Political Thought” with JMC Scholar Susan McWilliams Barndt

September 11, Saint Vincent College: “Constitutional Reset: SCOTUS’s Renewed Separation of Powers” with Adam Carrington

September 13, Lee University: “14th Annual Constitution Day Quiz Bowl and Lecture“

September 13, University of Missouri: “The Constitution and America’s New Racial Battle Lines” with Rogers Smith

September 16, Arizona State University: “A Constitution for a Diverse Nation: Federalism and the Challenge of American Pluralism” with Michael Barone.

September 16, North Greenville University: “What Can George Washington Teach Us About the Constitution” with William Reddinger

September 16, Princeton University: “Government Corruption and Private Power” with Julia Mahoney

September 16, Villanova University: “How the Pursuit of Happiness Defines America” with Jeffrey Rosen

September 16, Xavier University: “Who’s Responsible for Constitutional Rights?” with Miller Fellow Christina Bambrick.

September 16-19, Rose State College: “Constitution Extravaganza” featuring Jack Rakove

September 17, Assumption University: “Is America a Creedal Nation? A Jewish Perspective” with David P. Goldman

September 17, Benedictine College: “President Kennedy ’s Interpretation of the First Amendment” with Ryan T. Anderson

September 17, Biola University: “Natural Rights, Virtue , and the Constitution” with Mark Blitz

September 17, Catholic University of America: “Freedom from Religion or Freedom for Religion: Natural Rights & the American Constitution” with Vincent Phillip Muñoz

September 17, Claremont McKenna College: “History v. Originalism” with Jonathan Gienapp

September 17, Michigan State University: “Disinformation, Demagoguery, and the First Amendment” with Charles Zug

September 17, St. Ambrose University: “New York Times v. Sullivan and the Original Meaning of the First Amendment: Rethinking Libel and Freedom of Press” with JMC Scholar Carson Holloway

September 17, Texas State University: “The Crisis Presidency” with Miller Fellow Benjamin Kleinerman

September 17, Towson University: “Our Beliefs in/and the Constitution—Freedom of Religion, Then and Now” with Matthew Taylor and Ioanna Tourkochoriti

September 17, University of South Carolina: “Adam Smith and Founding Economics: The Political Economy of the U.S. Constitution” with Samuel Gregg

September 18, Great Hearts Institute: “The Constitution: Hidden Truths and Enduring Myths” with Miller Fellow Andrew Porwancher

September 18, University if Nevada – Las Vegas: “Native Nations and Jefferson’s 1804 Constitution” with JMC Academic Council Member Jeremy Bailey

September 18, West Virginia University: “The Constitution and Human Flourishing” with Samuel Gregg

September 19, Cairn University: “Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic” with Miller Fellow Mark David Hall

September 19, University of Wisconsin – Madison: “The Spirit of Amity: The Constitution’s Forgotten Cover Letter and the Original Meaning of Civility” with Derek Webb

September 20, Christendom College: “The Post-Constitutional Temptation” with JMC Scholar James Stoner Jr.

September 20, Providence College: “Why September 17 Matters and What All Americans Should Know about Our Constitution” with Jerome Foss

September 20, University of Georgia: “Of Kings and Presidents: Monarchy and the Framing of the Constitution” with Eric Nelson

September 20, University of Houston: “State, Constitution, and the Death of Politics” with Jacob Howland

September 20, Utah Valley University: “James Madison as the Founder of Founding” with James Ceaser

September 23, Ursinus College: “James Baldwin, History, Responsibility, and Atonement” with Melvin Rogers

September 24, Louisiana State University: “Government Corruption and Private Power” with Julia D. Mahoney

Sepember 26, University of Toldeo: “Freedom from Religion or Freedom for Religion? Religious Liberty & American Constitutionalism” with Vincent Phillip Muñoz

September 27, Jacksonville State University: “Constitutional Interpretation & Civic Leadership in Polarized Times” with Drew Kurlowski and Kimberly Hurd Hale

October 7, American University: “Can the Constitution Unify Americans?” with Yuval Levin

October 10, SUNY-Geneseo: “A Defense of American Constitutionalism” with Marc Landy

Select speakers adept at engaging diverse audiences, whether undergraduates, graduate students, members of the community, or fellow faculty.
Consider topical issues to generate greater students and community interest.
Involve student groups in planning and executing the event. Create a student advisory board to participate in selecting topics and speakers.
Tie the Constitution Day event to the curriculum as much as possible. Require students to attend the event and write short reports connecting the event to their course. Invite speakers to a class meeting.
Utilize all media circuits on campus with advertisements rather than depend on traditional posters and flyers. Ask the student newspaper to interview the speaker and report on the event.
Extend personal invitations to colleagues and community leaders on and off campus.