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

The Constitution & How a Bill Becomes a Law

April 30, 2024

The U.S. Government Publishing Office Bookstore offers the following best-selling classics about the American government.

The Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence (Pocket Edition). This official publication contains two core American democracy documents– the Constitution of the United States of America and the Declaration of Independence. It outlines the framework of the entire lawmaking process.

How a Bill Becomes a Law (Poster). This poster outlines the many steps in our Federal law-making process from the introduction of a bill—an excellent resource for a brick-and-mortar classroom or home school.

Here’s a breakdown of how a bill becomes a law and how the Constitution plays a role:

The Journey of a Bill:

  1. Introduction: A member of Congress (Senate or House of Representatives) introduces a bill, proposing a new law or changes to an existing one.
  2. Committee Action: The bill is assigned to a relevant committee for research, discussion, and possible revisions. The committee may hold hearings to gather public input.
  3. Floor Vote: If the committee approves the bill, it goes before the entire chamber (House or Senate) for debate and a vote.
  4. Second Chamber: If the bill passes one chamber, it goes through the same process in the other chamber. There may be revisions to reconcile differences between the two versions.
  5. Reaching the President: Once both chambers approve an identical version of the bill, it’s sent to the President.
  6. Presidential Action: The President has three choices:
    • Sign the bill: The bill becomes law.
    • Veto the bill: The bill is sent back to Congress with reasons for disapproval. Congress can try to override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
    • Pocket Veto (inaction): If the President doesn’t sign the bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, it dies. (This doesn’t apply if Congress adjourns before the 10 days.)
  7. Law of the Land: If the President signs or Congress overrides a veto, the bill becomes law and is enforced.

The Constitution’s Role:

The Constitution establishes the legislative branch (Congress) with the power to “make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” (Article I, Section 8). It also creates a system of checks and balances:

  • Bicameralism: Having two chambers (House and Senate) ensures more deliberation before a bill becomes law.
  • Presentation Clause: The President can influence legislation by signing or vetoing bills.
  • Veto Override: Congress can check the President’s power by overriding a veto with a supermajority.

This process ensures that laws go through multiple stages of review and approval before becoming effective, reflecting the principles laid out in the Constitution.

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

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 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).

Leave a Comment » | Civics and Citizenship, Congress, Government Printing Office (GPO), Senate, U.S. Constitution, U.S. History | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States

May 25, 2022

Does your family have a copy of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States? Every American should have handy the words of America’s founding fathers to help remind us all of the values of our freedom and independence.

This pocket-sized booklet can easily be kept in a home or on-person as a reminder of how our government is structured and operates. It also defines the ratification and amendment ratification process.

Important words of historical value, not only to live by but offer teachable moments with family and friends…

Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ….. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”

Constitution of the United States

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Pick up your copy of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States now!

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: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales office.

2 Comments | Civics and Citizenship, Department of Homeland Security, Libraries, 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