It is said that as Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Constitutional Convention, he was asked if the Founding Fathers had given America a monarchy or a republic, and he replied, “A republic, if you can preserve it.” The Founders placed the power to decide our nation’s future in the hands of “We the People.” On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we recommit ourselves to preserving our republic, perfecting our union, and ensuring that our democracy survives and thrives.
Our Constitution established that our nation would be a democracy, that is, rule by the people—not monarchs, the rich, or the powerful. It gave us separation of powers and a system of checks and balances so that we would be a country that respects the institutions that govern a free society. And it remains the bulwark to prevent abuses of power and ensure that “We the People” advance together, within the framework of the law. We are all responsible for upholding our democracy—not only by abiding by the Constitution, but by our character and the habits of our hearts and minds. We must all join the march to perfect our union by protecting and expanding our rights with each succeeding generation.
I believe America is at a turning point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come. That is why we must continue to protect the rights guaranteed by our Constitution and the values that define our nation. We must protect the right to vote – it is the threshold of democracy: with it, anything is possible, and without it, nothing is possible. Vice President Harris and I continue to call on Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to expand voting rights and prevent voter suppression. We will continue to work to protect women’s reproductive freedoms and their constitutional right to choose. We continue to call on Congress to protect Roe v. Wade enshrined in federal law once and for all. And we will continue to preserve and strengthen our democracy and never turn away from the values that have made us the greatest nation in the history of the world: freedom and independence.
Today, we also celebrate the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. From those born in this country to our naturalized citizens, America remains a great country because we are a good people. We are a nation of promise and opportunity, of dreamers and doers, and of ordinary Americans who accomplish extraordinary things. We welcome our nation’s newest citizens, whose stories embody the hope of the American Dream and whose contributions make our country stronger.
On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we recognize that the power to build a freer, more prosperous, and more just future rests in the hands of the American people. And we reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling the sacred tasks of our time—to ensure that democracy prevails and our constitutional protections are preserved for generations to come.
To honor the timeless principles of our Constitution, Congress, by a joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 USC 106), proclaimed September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” and authorized the President to issue a proclamation directing U.S. officials to fly the United States flag at all government buildings on that day. Congress, by a joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 USC 108), also requested the President to proclaim the week of September 17 through September 23 of each year as “Constitution Week.”
THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2024, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week. On this day and week, we celebrate our Constitution and the civil rights we enjoy together as a proud people of this nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby affixed my signature this sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and forty-nine.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
