Publication Date
2007
Abstract
Congress recently created a new national observance, Constitution Day, to be marked each year on September 17. This observance presents a valuable opportunity for the vastly diverse American populace to celebrate its shared values. But what, exactly, should Americans celebrate about the Constitution? The Constitution's text, after all, is hardly perfect, and judicial interpretations of the Constitution are similarly problematic. This Article sets out to identify the Constitution's core meaning for Americans. If first draws lessons from two contemporary Establishment Clause disputes (the teaching of intelligent design and the displaying of Ten Commandments monuments). These examples illustrate why the Constitution,and not a generic non-sectarian religion,is the best source of shared values for Americans. The Article concludes that the Constitution is vital for Americans because it embodies our secular society's commitment to respect the dignity and humanity of every individual. This commitment, together with the values it entails, refutes the claim that our society will be valueless unless grounded upon religious belief.
Recommended Citation
Garfield, Alan E.
(2007)
"What Should We Celebrate on Constitution Day?,"
Georgia Law Review: Vol. 41:
No.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/glr/vol41/iss2/4