Purdue University's Constitution Day Celebration

September 17, 2008
9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Purdue Memorial Union, Room 118

Thirty-nine of the 55 Delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. The Congress, by joint resolution, has designated September 17th as “Citizenship Day” and the week beginning September 17th and ending September 23rd of each year as “Constitution Week”. Public Law 108-477 contained in the recent Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 ( PDF ) states that “each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.

Booths and Activities:

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Purdue University Libraries' ‘Banned Book' Exhibit
Students can see how the First Amendment impacts their lives through this display of books that have been (or remain) censored. Information on censorship and important censorship cases will also be displayed.
Constitution Challenge
Students from various organizations will compete against each other in a college bowl competition to test their knowledge of the Constitution. These exciting contests will take place throughout the day and contestants will receive awards for their participation.
America Rock® “The Preamble”
Watch this classic cartoon treatment of the events leading up to the singing of the Constitution and sign along to the familiar lyrics.


National Constitution Center's A More Perfect Union
View the key events leading up to singing of the Constitution.


National Constitution Center's Interactive Timeline and “Save the Bill of Rights”
The Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline is an online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history. Visitors can browse through a collection of stories and headlines—annotated by images, audio and video clips and interactive content—to explore some of the people, events and issues that have shaped the Constitution and the history of our nation.
“Save the Bill of Rights” is an interactive game that asks students to identify certain rights contained in the Bill of Rights in order to put them “back together again.”


Multimedia Constitution QuizOff
Students will compete against each other and against Purdue Faculty—using infrared signaling devices—to test their knowledge of the Constitution. This ‘ Jeopardy '—format gameshow will take place continuously throughout the day.


League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in its government. The League will participate in the celebration of
Constitution Day by distributing voter information and registering individuals to vote.


Purdue Student Government
Purdue Student Government works to provide internships for students in local and state government. Representatives will be available to inform students of internship opportunities in Indianapolis in the Indiana House and the Senate.


Justice Learning's Conversations with Supreme Court Justices
View this classroom video of United States Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer talking about the Constitution with high school students at the Supreme Court. This video features the Justices taking questions from students and discussing why we have and need a Constitution; what federalism is; how implicit and explicit rights are defined; and how separation of powers ensures that no one branch of government obtains too much power.

Constitution Day prizes that will be given away will feature:
-Specially designed T-Shirts
 -Pocket Sized Copies of the Constitution
 -Other Unique Gifts
 -Light Refreshements available for all attendees throughout the day
 -Enter a drawing for valuable Purdue Merchandise