AU talks: Constitution Week | All about the importance of this celebration

Our Compliance Director, Ken Kistner, and Our Dean of Academics, Dr. Miya Burt-Stewart comment and instruct us on what is celebrated on Constitution Day and the importance behind this celebration.

What is Constitution Day?

On September 17th, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history, the US Constitution.

The Constitution defines the structure of our federal government. 

The Constitution has three main functions.

1. First it creates a national government consisting of a legislative,

an executive, and a judicial branch, with a system of checks and

balances among the three branches.

2. Second, it divides power between the federal government and the states, and

3. Third, it protects various individual liberties of American citizens.

The Six Big Ideas found in the Constitution are:

1. limited government.

2. Republicanism. (Representative Government- A much better guard against the tyranny of the majority)

3. checks and balances. (Mutual Oversight)

4. federalism.

5. separation of powers.

6. popular sovereignty.

There are currently 27 Amendments

What is the Bill of Rights:

The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were added shortly after the Constitution was ratified in 1791 to address concerns about individual rights and limitations on government power. The Bill of Rights plays a crucial role in protecting the civil liberties and freedoms of American citizens. 

The Bill of Rights was a critical addition to the Constitution, as it reassured many Americans who were initially skeptical of a strong central government. These amendments are fundamental in safeguarding individual freedoms, ensuring due process, and establishing limits on government authority. They continue to be the cornerstone of civil liberties and legal protections in the United States.