Constitution Day

2024 Activities

"Contemplating the Constitution" invites the community to share their thoughts and reflections on an aspect of the US Constitution. This year, we invite you to consider one component of the preamble. The Constitution begins with the familiar phrase "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice..." What does "establish Justice" mean to you? Distill your thoughts and observations into six words.

OSU students who participate will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win one of five $200 scholarships.

To help you reflect and generate ideas, check out this interactive constitution or learn more about how we change the Constitution

Add Your Six Words

Annual Activities

Each year, the OSU Library distributes pocket Constitutions and presents a digital exhibit about the Constitution. 

Rebroadcasts

We invite you to watch the rebroadcasts of some of our past events:

• 2019: Angela Monson, Patricia Loughlin and Jeanette Mendez
• 2017: Sam Lebovic
• 2015: Chris Capozzola
• 2013: Michael W. Carroll

Previous Celebrations

• 2024: "Establish Justice"
  • 2024 Responses to "Establish justice"
• 2023: "A more perfect union"
  • 2023 Responses to "A more perfect union"
• 2022: How would you change the Constitution?
  • 2022 Responses to "How would you change the Constitution?"
• 2021: Contemplating the Constitution
  • 2021 Responses to "Contemplating the Constitution"
  • Sept. 8, 2021: OSU hosting Constitution Day celebration next week
  • Sept. 17, 2021: Students offer thoughts on Constitution as part of library’s holiday commemoration
• 2020: Digital Exhibit & Pocket Constitutions
• 2019: Angela Monson, Patricia Loughlin and Jeanette Mendez
  • Speaker Bios
  • Watch 2019 Presentation
• 2018: Pocket Constitution giveaway
  • Digital Exhibit
• 2017: Sam Lebovic
  • Watch 2017 Presentation
• 2016: Carolyn Whitener and Curtis Craig
• 2015: Chris Capozzola
  • Watch 2015 Presentation
  • Event Flier 2015
• 2014: Rick Rohrs
• 2013: Michael W. Carroll
  • Watch 2013 Highlights
  • Speaker Bio 2013
• 2012: Jeff Rosen
• 2011: Virginia E. Sloan
• 2010: Andrew Lester
• 2009: Craig Watkins
• 2008: Mickey Edwards
  • Event Program 2008
• 2007: Danny Adkison
• 2006: Greg Favre
• 2005: Steven Taylor

About Constitution Day

Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is a federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787

The law establishing the holiday was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd to the Omnibus spending bill of 2004. Before this law was enacted, the holiday was known as "Citizenship Day." In addition to renaming the holiday "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," the act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day. In May 2005, the Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind.

Declaration of Independence
Bill of Rights
Constitution