Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2008

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8289

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,
Constitution Week, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Americans are united by the ideals of equal justice,
limited government, and the rule of law. On
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during
Constitution Week, we remember the vision and
determination of the Framers to build a free society,
and we celebrate the historical document they created
to achieve that goal.

More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers
gathered in Philadelphia and produced a charter that
would promote justice and preserve the liberty of all
our citizens. The Founders established three separate
branches of Government with a system of checks and
balances among them. Ours is the oldest written
constitution in the world, and the American experiment
remains the world's best hope for freedom.

The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty
and equality and has lifted the lives of countless
individuals. Whether they are citizens by birth or by
oath, Americans share a great tradition of enjoying
liberty protected by a constitutional government of
their choosing.

On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during
Constitution Week, Americans come together and
recognize the blessings bestowed upon our great Nation.
On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the
Constitution's drafters and recommit ourselves to
making the United States a more perfect union.

In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and
of Americans who strive to fulfill the duties and
responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint
resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as
amended), designated September 17 as ``Constitution Day
and Citizenship Day,'' and by joint resolution of
August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended), requested
that the President proclaim the week beginning
September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as
``Constitution Week.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim September
17, 2008, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and
September 17 through September 23, 2008, as
Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and
local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social,
and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies
and programs that celebrate our Constitution and
reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of
this great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.