Above / Remember to recognize Constitution Day on Fri., Sept. 17 with thoughts of the creation of the document that is the fundamental law of the American federal system. A copy of the Constitution is included in the Freedom Shrine, the collection of historic document replicas that has been presented to the City of Naperville as well as local schools from the Exchange Club of Naperville.
September 17 is the date set aside every year to celebrate Constitution Day in the United States. Since 1956, Constitution Week has been recognized annually from September 17-23 by resolution of the United States Congress as a result of a National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) petition.
“For seven years prior to her death, Bettye Wehrli, a member of Naperville’s DAR Fort Payne Chapter, was an enthusiastic promoter of this annual celebration of our Constitution, partnering with the Naperville Public Library,” said Candice Peel for the Fort Payne Chapter. “Our Chapter wishes to continue to honor Bettye’s commitment to the Constitution with annual exhibits. During Constitution Week the Children’s sections of Naperville’s three branches will have informative displays about our Constitution, including books and an opportunity for children to sign their names to a scroll as did the original signers of the document.”
The Positively Naperville website features numerous posts about the U.S. Constitution and the freedoms it provides. While visiting this website, simply search “Constitution” or click here.
To commemorate Constitution Day, photos from a previous display organized by Wehrli for the Daughters of the American Revolution at Nichols Library are presented here.
Commemorate Constitution Day in the United States on Sept. 17
In 1787, 39 of our nation’s founders gathered in the Pennsylvania State House to create the Constitution of the United States of America that later was ratified on June 21, 1788.
This document—carefully created 11 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed and almost six years after our fledgling nation defeated the British forces at Yorktown to win the Revolutionary War— changed the world.
For the first time in history, in what is often considered “America’s Great Experiment,” We The People ruled themselves by establishing a limited government based on law and consent of the governed. Power was with The People, not with a ruler.
Unalienable rights came from God, not from a king.
13 original states eventually ratified the Constitution
A system of checks and balances was integral to the design of the new government, to prevent any one of the three branches—legislative, executive and judicial—of government from gaining too much control.
To preserve these fragile freedoms for future generations, the founders understood that an educated electorate needed to be informed about the issues that impacted their government and their lives.
The Constitution, which includes the Bill of Rights, has guaranteed individual freedom and liberty for more than 233 years, and it has inspired freedom throughout the world. Today there are 27 amendments to the Constitution.
Observing Constitution Day is one way to honor and better understand these important documents that are the foundation of freedoms in our constitutional republic.
Freedom is fragile and must be protected every day. As folks are reminded every day when they visit the Cmdr. Dan Shanower September 11 Memorial along the Naperville Riverwalk, “Freedom isn’t free.”
Preamble of The Constitution of the United States
WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish 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.
Article IV Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
To read more about how Article IV guarantees a Republican Form of Government, click here to visit the Library of Congress website where the Constitution is annotated.
Amendments
The first Ten Amendments to the Constitution were passed by Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, and ratified by three/fourths of the States on Dec. 15, 1791.
Those ten Articles, ie. amendments, proposed by Congress are provided for in the fifth article of the original Constitution.
To all Americans who respect the free press and personal freedom, Article I particularly resonates:
Article I / Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Link to the Constitution of the United States / Individuals interested in reading the entire document will find it takes about one hour. However, considering all the volumes that have been written about the fundamental law of the American federal system—many available at Naperville Public Library— understanding the many ways it’s been interpreted could require a lifetime.
Vote for liberty and justice for all in the Illinois Primary on June 28, 2022
In June 2021, the Illinois Governor signed a measure to move the Illinois Primary Election from March 15, 2022, to June 28, 2022, among other changes aimed at expanding voting access.
According to the U.S. Constitution…
ARTICLE I establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. The Congress is a bicameral legislature consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate.
Illinois Primary Election
Illinois will elect one of its two U.S. Senators to a six-year term in this election. Naperville voters also will be electing Representatives to serve two-year terms in the 6th, 11th and 14th Congressional Districts.
In addition, 2022 is an Illinois Gubernatorial Election Year. Remember to be an educated voter in advance of the primary election on Tues., June 28, 2022.
Illinois General Election
Be prepared to vote in the Illinois Gubernatorial General Election on Tues., Nov. 8, 2022.
