“We the People”

Remembering the U.S. Constitution

By Jason Conant



On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates in Philadelphia signed the United States Constitution. Today, 239 years later, we recognize Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

But Constitution Day should be about more than remembering a date in history. It should remind us what the Constitution does, why it matters, and what “We the People” really means.

Freedom Requires Responsibility

America's constitutional system developed within a culture strongly influenced by religious belief, biblical principles, English law, Enlightenment thought and other traditions. The Declaration of Independence states that our unalienable rights are endowed by our Creator, while the Constitution establishes a government of divided and limited powers.

Our culture has changed greatly since 1787. Ideas about morality, freedom and the role of government continue to be debated. In my view, however, freedom must always be accompanied by morality, personal responsibility and accountability.

The Constitution isn't simply an old piece of paper. It remains the framework under which our federal government operates.

Do We Understand It?

The 2026 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey found that 35% of U.S. adults could not name all three branches of government, and only 9% could name all five freedoms protected by the First Amendment in an open-ended question.

That should give all of us something to think about.

Federal law requires educational institutions receiving federal funds to provide an educational program about the Constitution around September 17, although it does not dictate a specific curriculum.

But teaching the Constitution isn't solely the responsibility of our schools. It belongs to parents, families, churches, communities—and each of us.

“We the People”

The Constitution begins with three powerful words:

“We the People.”

Our government was designed around the principle that political authority ultimately comes from the people. The Constitution established separate legislative, executive and judicial branches and divided authority between federal and state governments.

The Framers didn't agree on everything. They debated, argued and compromised. Some even refused to sign the final document.

That is worth remembering today because the Constitution was never designed to make Americans agree with one another.

We will disagree about taxes, education, spending, immigration, public safety and the proper role of government.

But our constitutional system gives us peaceful ways to address those disagreements.

We can speak, assemble, petition our government, attend public meetings, contact our representatives, challenge government actions through the courts and vote.

Read It for Yourself

We often hear people claim something is “constitutional” or “unconstitutional.”

Instead of simply accepting what politicians, commentators, social media—or even I—tell you, read the Constitution yourself.

Read the First Amendment. Learn what Article I says about Congress. Read Article II concerning the executive branch and Article III concerning the federal judiciary. Study the Bill of Rights and the amendments that followed.

You don't have to be an attorney or constitutional scholar to understand the basic framework of your government.

Whether Republican, Democrat, independent or none of the above, the Constitution belongs to all of us.

Attend a city council or school board meeting. Learn who represents you. Ask questions. Listen to people you disagree with. Speak when you believe something needs to be said—and allow others the same opportunity.

A government whose Constitution begins with “We the People” requires something from we the people.

• It requires our participation.

• It requires our attention.

• It requires responsibility.

And it requires each generation to understand the Constitution well enough to preserve our system of constitutional government.

Read it. Study it. Discuss it.

🇺🇸 Happy Constitution Day. 🇺🇸