Constitution Day 2023

Constitution Day is the annual celebration of the day that representatives to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia completed and signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The observance of this day began as “I am an American Day” in 1940 and later as Citizenship Day in 1952 when the celebration was moved to September 17 to commemorate the signing of the original document. Constitution Day as we observe it today was recognized as a federal holiday in 2004, when Senator Robert Byrd passed a bill designating September 17 as the day for citizens to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to thoughtfully engage with the nation’s founding document.

On Friday, September 15, 2023, the American Founding Group and the School of Public and International Affairs will host a celebration of Constitution Day. The centerpiece of these festivities is a lecture by Mary Sarah Bilder, Founders Professor of Law at Boston College Law School.

Prior to the lecture, the UGA Libraries will host “Constitution on the Quad,” featuring Constitutional trivia and student readings of the Constitution. In addition, historical documents and materials related to the American founding and U.S. Constitution will be on display at the Chapel from the Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

For more information about the 2023 Constitution Day celebration at UGA, click here.

WHEN:

Friday, September 15, 2023
1:30 pm  |  Constitution in the Quad: Constitutional trivia and student readings of the Constitution
1:30 pm  |  Display of historical documents and artifacts in UGA Chapel
2:00-3:00 pm  |  Lecture by Professor Mary Sarah Bilder

WHERE:

UGA Chapel
109 Herty Drive
Athens, GA 30602
View Map »

EVENT PARKING:

The North Campus Parking Deck offers convenient pay-by-the-hour parking for Constitution Day events. Visitors should enter the parking deck’s main entrance on 230 S. Jackson Street. View Map »

For alternative parking options, please consult UGA Parking Services’ Visitor Parking Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Access can be provided for people with disabilities. Contact Lauren Ledbetter at lledbetter@uga.edu by Wednesday, September 6, 2023 for specific requests.

QUESTIONS:

Lauren Ledbetter at lledbetter@uga.edu or 706-975-8443
Keith Dougherty at dougherk@uga.edu or 706-542-2989

For more information about the 2023 Constitution Day celebration at UGA, click here.