Proclamation 9323-Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2015
Issued 2015-09-16 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
On September 16, 2015, President Obama issued a proclamation designating September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week. This proclamation commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and celebrates Americans who become naturalized citizens. The proclamation is issued annually based on congressional resolutions from 1952 and 1956 that established these observances and requested the President to proclaim them each year.
This ceremonial proclamation does not create new laws or impose legal requirements on anyone. It is a traditional statement that draws public attention to the Constitution and citizenship. The proclamation welcomes the country's newest citizens and mentions the White House Task Force on New Americans, which was created to help integrate immigrants and refugees into American communities and encourage eligible individuals to pursue citizenship.
Ceremonial proclamations like this one have been issued by presidents since George Washington. They are purely declaratory statements that express the President's sentiment on behalf of the nation and require no congressional approval beyond the original resolutions that established the observances.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation designates "Proclamation 9323-Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2015" — a ceremonial observance that brings national attention to constitution. Presidents have issued ceremonial proclamations since George Washington, and they fall squarely within the executive tradition. They do not create new law, direct federal spending, or impose legal obligations on citizens.
Ceremonial proclamations like this one are purely declaratory. They express the sentiment of the President on behalf of the nation, drawing public awareness to causes or communities. They require no congressional approval and face no constitutional challenges.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2015 Proclamation 9323—Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2015 September 16, 2015 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation At the culmination of months of deliberation, debate, and compromise, on September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was signed. Colonists came together in bold pursuit of a roadmap for citizenship and a framework for our democracy—exemplifying the statesmanship and character that would forever set our Nation apart. Yielding to the power of shared ideals over stubborn opinion, our forefathers upheld a belief that remains at the heart of America today: that men and women of free will have the capacity to shape their own destinies. These early patriots understood what it meant to be American. They succeeded in crafting a document that enshrines our enduring faith in the notion that being a citizen is about more than circumstances of birth—we are bound together by our beliefs, our unalienable rights, and the idea that we must accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations. In what has become the supreme law of our land, and in the ensuing amendments to it, we see a reflection of our Founding Fathers' insi