We the People: Sept. 17-23 is Constitution Week

The Daughters of the american Revolution (DAR) originated celebrating the Constitution and petitioned Congress in 1955 to establish Sept. 17 – 23 as an annual observance. The resolution was adopted and became law on aug. 2, 1956 endorsed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The purpose of Constitution Week is to (1) emphasize citizens’ responsibilities

for protecting and defending the Constitution, (2) inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life, and (3) encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787 (https://www.dar.org/national-society/education/constitution-week).

The need for the United States Constitution developed from difficulties with the Articles of Confederation. In May 1787, delegates from twelve states (no representative from Rhode Island) formed the Constitutional Convention to draft the new constitution by creating a document restricting the government and not threaten fundamental rights.

After meeting in secret, the delegates settled a House of Representatives, representing the people as apportioned by population and the Senate, representing the states equally, and an independent judiciary. States are required to give reciprocation to the laws, records, contracts, and judicial proceedings of the other states, cannot discriminating against citizens of other states, cannot enact tariffs, and must extradite accused criminals.

Governor Morris, one of the delegates from Pennsylvania, hand wrote the United States Constitution and is credited with the preamble. Ratification occurred on September 17, 1787 with 39 of the 55 delegates signing. The other delegates refused because of the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the Constitution).

• 1st Amendment – freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

• 2nd Amendment – the right to keep and bear arms to maintain a well-regulated militia.

• 3rd Amendment – no quartering of soldiers in peace time.

• 4th Amendment – freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

• 5th Amendment – right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, or double jeopardy.

• 6th Amendment – right of accused persons the right to a speedy and public trial.

• 7th Amendment – right of trial by jury in civil cases.

• 8TH Amendment – freedom from excessive bail, cruel, and unusual punishments.

• 9th Amendment – enumeration in the Constitution shall not be construed to deny or disparage others.

• 10th Amendment – powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states.

Adoption of the Constitution required nine of the thirteen states to endorse. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787 with the ninth state being New Hampshire on June 22, 1788. The Confederation Congress established March 9, 1789 as the newly created United States Constitution activation date. North Carolina, Rhode Island, and New Jersey were the last three states to endorse the Constitution with New

Jersey being the last on May 29, 1790 (https:// www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/ the-constitution/).

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. If interested in the DAR contact Naomi Podlesak at njpodlesak@comcast.net or visit www.dar.org/ join.