Happy Constitution Day. Today marks the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Officially created in 2004, the unofficial holiday has roots that reach back over 70 years, intertwined with Citizenship Day.
Written in what is now called Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States Constitution shares its place of creation with the Declaration of Independence. Though written in 1787, the Constitution was not ratified until the following year.
The writing of the U.S. Constitution was originally supposed to be a simple upgrade to the Articles of Confederation. It became rapidly apparent to the Founding Fathers, however, that the Articles of Confederation was not salvageable, and a new Constitution would need to be created. The founders locked the doors and closed the windows for five months, debating heavily, and arguing loudly. The framework presented by James Madison was good, but not perfect as far as the delegates were concerned, and not agreeable to all of them.
Once the Constitution came into being, a number of the framers were concerned that the document failed to address individual rights. In 1791 list of rights were added to the Constitution. These first ten amendments became known as The Bill of Rights, and of the original 55 delegates attending the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed the Bill of Rights, with only 3 delegates dissenting.
Contrary to popular opinion, Thomas Jefferson was not present for the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Jefferson was in France during the Constitutional Convention. John Adams was also absent during the writing and signing of the U.S. Constitution, representing the new nation in Great Britain at the time.
Concise, and written plainly, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest of all written national constitutions. The Founding Fathers wrote it to withstand the tests of time, and man's lust for power. Designed to be by the people, of the people, and for the people, the United States Constitution divides power in ways that no single person or entity can return America to the rule of a King, or totalitarian establishment, if the Constitution is followed as is written, and with the original intentions of the Founding Fathers in mind.
The U.S. Constitution, contrary to popular belief, is not a living and breathing document that changes at the whims of the interpreters. It is, however, capable of being changed, by use of amendments. More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Thirty three have gone to the states to be ratified and twenty seven have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution.
Constitution Day mandates that publicly funded schools provide lessons on the history of the Constitution - an option that is otherwise rarely utilized, some historians would admit.
A recent Constitution Day forum, in 2007, was marked by a Florida student being tasered for asking a question of Senator John Kerry that was not well received by the Democrats, resulting in the removal of the student from the forum. The episode is best remembered by the student yelling "Don't tase me, bro," as he was led out of the auditorium.
Take advantage of today, and read the U.S. Constitution. Read it, understand it, learn about the history surrounding the document. You do this, and you will be miles ahead of any of the politicians currently serving this nation.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Text of the U.S. Constitution - Constitution Day
10 Fast Facts on the Constitution - Constitution Center
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