Kids Edition Constitution Day: How a Document Changed the Course of History

We explore why Constitution Day matters by comparing the U.S. Constitution to the rulebook of a sports team, showing how both prevent chaos and establish fair play. On September 17, 1787, the founders created not just a document but a revolutionary system where power comes from the people rather than kings or rulers.

• The Constitution serves as America's rulebook, similar to how sports teams need rules to function
• Signed on September 17, 1787, the Constitution established how our new country would operate
• Revolutionary concept that power comes from "We the People" instead of kings
• The U.S. Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in use today (230+ years)
• The document can be amended when needed, as demonstrated by the Bill of Rights
• Many schools celebrate by having students read the preamble aloud
• Constitution Day is especially meaningful for new citizens taking their oath of citizenship
• The Constitution represents a promise that our government is built by the people and for the people

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi everyone, welcome back to Civic Senior Kids
Edition.
So I got a question for you.
Why do we celebrateConstitution Day?
Let's start with something youmight know well a sports team.
Think about soccer.
If your team showed up to playwithout rules, what would happen
?
Some kids might grab the ballwith their hands, others might

(00:23):
run in different directions andthe game would be total chaos.
This is why sports need rules.
Everyone knows how the gameworks, who's in charge of what
and how to solve problems whenthey come up.
Well, back in 1787, the foundersof our country faced the same
kind of challenge, but on a muchbigger scale.
They needed rules for how abrand new country, the United

(00:45):
States of America, would work.
On September 17, 1787, a groupof delegates in Philadelphia
signed a document they hadworked on for months.
That document was the USConstitution.
A constitution is like ournation's rule book.
It explains how the governmentis set up, what powers each

(01:06):
branch has and, most importantly, it says the power comes from
the people.
That was a huge deal.
It meant no more kings.
Instead, we, the people, woulddecide how we are governed.
So why do we celebrateConstitution Day every year on
September 17th?
Because the Constitution is thefoundation of our republic.

(01:27):
It is the reason we havepresidents instead of kings,
elections instead of rulers andrights that protect every person
.
Think of Constitution Day likea team celebrating the day they
agreed on the rules of the game.
Without those rules, the teamcouldn't even play together.
There's something cool theConstitution is the oldest

(01:54):
written national constitutionstill used today.
Other countries have writtennew ones, but ours has lasted
more than 230 years and it's notfrozen in time.
We can amend it or make changeswhen the people decide it's
needed.
That's how we got the Bill ofRights, which protects the
freedom of speech, freedom ofreligion and many important
rights.

(02:17):
There's a real story aboutConstitution Day.
In many schools across America,kids celebrate by reading the
preamble out loud.
Together, we, the people of theUnited States, in order to form
a more perfect union, establishjustice, ensure domestic
tranquility, provide for thecommon defense, promote the
general welfare and secure theblessings of liberty to

(02:40):
ourselves and our posterity, doordain and establish this
Constitution for the UnitedStates of America.
In some places, like at acourthouse or community center,
people from all over the worldwho want to become American
citizens take the oath ofcitizenship on Constitution Day.
They raise their right hand andpromise to follow the

(03:02):
Constitution and be a part of we, the People.
For them, constitution Day isextra special.
It's the day they officiallyjoined the American team.
So why do we celebrateConstitution Day?
Because it reminds us of anagreement that holds our country
together.
It's not just a piece of paper.
It's a promise that ourgovernment is built by us and

(03:25):
for us.
So next time September 17throlls around, you'll know it's
more than just another day.
It's a celebration of the rulesthat give us freedom, fairness
and a voice in our government.
I'm Liz, and this has beenCivics in a Year Kids Edition.
Thanks for listening andremember, just like on a team,
our country does better when weall know the rules and