[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 183 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 49405-49406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24296]



[[Page 49403]]


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Part VI





The President





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Proclamation 6917--Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 1996
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 183 / Thursday, September 19, 1996 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 49405]]

                Proclamation 6917 of September 17, 1996

                
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 1996

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                At a time when many nations around the world are 
                becoming ever more factionalized, the citizens of the 
                United States are blessed with an overarching identity 
                as Americans. The wisdom of our Nation's founders, as 
                embodied in our Constitution, still binds us in a 
                united community of purpose and ideals. Our 
                Constitution invites us all to recognize ourselves as 
                Americans first--not to de-emphasize our personal or 
                familial roots, but to celebrate the diversity that 
                adds strength to our national character. As Daniel 
                Webster put it more than a century ago, we share ``One 
                country, one constitution, one destiny.''

                This week we celebrate the Constitution of the United 
                States of America. This remarkably flexible document 
                has stood for more than two centuries as a unique 
                achievement in the world of nations. The more we study 
                and understand the Constitution, the more we grow, 
                mature, and blossom as citizens. This process links us 
                to the Nation's founders by making us part of their 
                great adventure in democracy. By living our daily lives 
                according to the founders' principles, we keep alive 
                their vision and demonstrate its truth and wisdom.

                 In order to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, 
                immigrants undertake a formal study of the guiding 
                principles and institutions of American government. 
                Those who choose to become citizens proudly welcome 
                this responsibility. In fact, all of us would do well 
                to emulate the zeal and interest shown by these newest 
                Americans, who deeply appreciate their bond with the 
                noble tradition of our Constitution. Therefore, on this 
                occasion I call upon all Americans to consider the 
                wonderful blessings of their United States citizenship 
                and to look upon our Constitution and celebrate the 
                freedom and protection that it has always afforded us.

                In commemoration of the signing of our Constitution and 
                in recognition of the importance of informed, 
                responsible citizenship, the Congress, by joint 
                resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 153), 
                designated September 17 as ``Citizenship Day,'' and by 
                joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 159), 
                requested the President to proclaim the week beginning 
                September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as 
                ``Constitution Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 
                17, 1996, as Citizenship Day and September 17 through 
                September 23, 1996, as Constitution Week, and urge all 
                Americans to join in observing these occasions with 
                appropriate programs and activities.

[[Page 49406]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-first.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 96-24296
Filed 9-18-96; 11:22 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P