Constitution Week: Honoring the Blueprint of American Democracy

September 14, 2026

Every year from September 17 to September 23, Constitution Week marks a vital moment in our national story. Kicking off with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17—the anniversary of the document’s signing in 1787—this week offers a dedicated time to reflect on the core principles, rights, and responsibilities that define American democracy.

Whether you are a lifelong civic enthusiast or simply looking to reconnect with the foundations of our government, this observance is an ideal opportunity to explore how this living document continues to shape daily life.

A great resource for learning more during this observance is The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence (Pocket Edition). Available through the official U.S. Government Bookstore, this compact booklet contains the full text of both founding documents. It serves as a practical, portable way to review the framework of our national government, the division of powers, and the exact processes required for ratification and amendment.

Ways to Get Involved

  • Read the Founding Documents: Pick up the official pocket edition or access digital primary sources through the National Archives to engage with the original text directly.
  • Engage in Educational Programs: Participate in local community debates, historical lectures, or school workshops focused on civic literacy and constitutional history.
  • Explore Online Resources: Utilize digital tools, historical archives, and educational guides provided by national civic organizations to deepen your knowledge of the Bill of Rights.
  • Start a Civic Conversation: Discuss key constitutional themes—such as the system of checks and balances—with family, friends, or colleagues to keep meaningful dialogue active.
  • Practice Active Citizenship: Use the week as a prompt to register to vote, research upcoming local ballot initiatives, or volunteer with civic organizations.

By honoring Constitution Week, we do more than look back at 1787; we actively uphold the habits of self-governance necessary to sustain American democracy for generations to come.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From the US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales Office.

Images and additional content provided by Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins. Trudy is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office, supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

4 Comments | Civics and Citizenship, Congress, U.S. History | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Celebrate Constitution Day

September 13, 2023

The United States celebrates Constitution Day on September 17th to commemorate when delegates came together in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and signed the U.S. Constitution into law. It is the supreme law of the land and establishes the basic framework of the U.S. government.

There are many ways to celebrate Constitution Day. You can attend educational programs or read the pocket-size booklet containing the complete text of these two core documents of American democracy, the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence, to stay connected with the principles that have made America a bastion of democracy throughout its history.

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate Constitution Day:

  • Attend an educational program about the Constitution.
  • Visit the National Archives and see the original Constitution.
  • Read the Constitution and discuss it with your family or friends.
  • Watch a documentary about the Constitution.
  • Participate in a community event that celebrates the Constitution.
  • Volunteer your time to help others learn about the Constitution.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, Constitution Day is a great time to reflect on the importance of the United States Constitution and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

1 Comment | Civics and Citizenship, Congress, Teachers and teaching, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Constitution, U.S. History | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Learn About the United States

December 14, 2021

Bill of Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 15. It’s a great time to reflect on two fundamental resources that are the foundation of our nation’s reliance on laws that govern. Our Nation’s beginning started when our founding fathers wrote and approved the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The Bill of Rights were created and placed at the opening of the Constitution. These essential individual rights are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Initially there were no individual rights as the founders were focused on establishing a new form of government. However, many citizens at the time recognized the importance of individual rights and wanted to make sure essential personal freedoms were included. Thus, the Bill of Rights came to be.

The U.S. Government Publishing Office Bookstore provides many federal titles describing the contents of the Constitution as well as other historical documents.

Americans can keep the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence handy in this pocket-size booklet containing the complete text of the two core documents of American democracy; the Constitution of the United States, and, the Declaration of Independence. You can use this comprehensive booklet to stay connected with the principles that have made America a bastion of democracy throughout its history.

To learn more about America’s history, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has created a series of flash cards Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons. This set of educational flash cards were especially designed for new immigrants to more easily learn about the history and wonder of becoming an American citizen.

These are great resources for civics, Government, and history teachers and students.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Civics and Citizenship, Department of Homeland Security, Teachers and teaching, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Constitution | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins