Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2016

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9497 of September 16, 2016

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,
Constitution Week, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Tasked with the awesome responsibility of building a
Government to endure for generations to come, a band of
dedicated patriots gathered in Philadelphia in 1787,
seeking to build a more stable and permanent framework
for a nascent democracy. Passionate debates and intense
negotiation gave way to lasting compromise, and a
document emerged that became the bedrock of America.
Signed on September 17, the Constitution of the United
States has steered our country through ever-changing
times. It guides us as leaders on the world stage and
safeguards the fundamental rights of our citizens. And
it guarantees that the greatness of our Nation never
depends on any one person--it requires the full and
active participation of an engaged and vibrant
citizenry.

The vision of self-government laid out in our
Constitution is dependent on Americans doing the hard
and sometimes frustrating--yet always essential--work
of citizenship. Being a citizen is a responsibility
that challenges each of us to stay informed, to speak
out when something is not right or not just, and to
come together to shape the course our country will
take. Citizenship is a commitment, calling on us to
stand up for what we believe in and to exercise our
rights to protect the rights of others. The Bill of
Rights and other amendments added in the decades that
followed have paved the way for progress, and they
embody a truth held since our founding: the simple but
powerful idea that people who love their country can
change it for the better.

America is more than a piece of land--it is an idea, a
place where we can contribute our talents, fulfill our
ambitions, and be part of something bigger than
ourselves. Each year on Citizenship Day, we celebrate
our newest citizens who raise their hands and swear a
sacred oath to join our American family. The journey
they have taken reminds us that immigration is our
origin story. For centuries, immigrants have brought
diverse beliefs, cultures, languages, and traditions to
our country, and they have pledged to uphold the ideals
expressed in our founding documents. They come from all
around the world, mustering faith that in America, they
can build a better life and give their children
something more. That is why I was proud to create the
White House Task Force on New Americans, which is
helping to build welcoming communities around our
country and enhance civic, economic, and linguistic
integration for immigrants and refugees. Through the
Task Force, Federal agencies and local communities are
working together to raise awareness about the rights,
responsibilities, and opportunities of citizenship--and
to give immigrants and refugees the tools they need to
succeed.

As a Nation of immigrants, our legacy is rooted in
their success. Their contributions help us live up to
our founding principles. With pride in our diverse
heritage and in our common creed, we affirm our
dedication to the values enshrined in our Constitution.
We, the people, must forever breathe life into the
words of this precious document, and together ensure
that its principles endure for generations to come.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim September
17, 2016, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and
September 17 through September 23, 2016, 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 bring together community members to
reflect on the importance of active citizenship,
recognize the enduring strength of our Constitution,
and reaffirm our commitment to the rights and
obligations of citizenship in this great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two
thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-first.