[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 49121-49122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25116]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 182 / Friday, September 19, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 49121]]

                Proclamation 7022 of September 16, 1997

                
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Of all the dates in American history, one of the most 
                important is perhaps the least well-known--September 
                17, 1787. On that day, our Nation's Founders signed the 
                Constitution of the United States, a document that has 
                steadily grown in stature throughout the world as a 
                model for democratic government under the rule of law.

                As with most human enterprises, the Constitution was 
                the product of compromise. The delegates to the 
                Constitutional Convention brought with them to 
                Philadelphia conflicting local and regional concerns, 
                differing viewpoints, fears of creating a government 
                that was either too powerful or too weak. When the 
                convention seemed close to dissolving with nothing 
                accomplished, Benjamin Franklin reminded his fellow 
                delegates that history would judge them harshly if they 
                failed in this great experiment of self-government: ``. 
                . . [M]ankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate 
                instance, despair of establishing governments by human 
                wisdom, and leave it to chance, war and conquest.''

                But human wisdom did prevail. The delegates devised a 
                framework for democracy with an ingenious design of 
                checks and balances, broad protection of individual 
                rights, and a mechanism for amendment to ensure that it 
                would be able to respond to the ever-changing needs of 
                our people. This remarkable document has rightly earned 
                the world's admiration for its success in combining 
                structural solidity with practical adaptability--a 
                combination that has served our Nation through times of 
                rapid change as well as times of stability.

                 We can measure that success by the thousands of men, 
                women, and children who travel to our shores each year, 
                seeking a chance to live out their dreams. Many of them 
                know what life can be like without the blessings of our 
                Constitution, and their experience is a powerful 
                reminder to us of the importance of protecting the 
                Constitution if we are to preserve freedom for 
                ourselves and for the generations of Americans to 
                follow. We can also learn much from their deep desire 
                for American citizenship and their enthusiasm to 
                embrace not only its privileges, but also its 
                responsibilities--knowledge of and respect for our 
                laws, a willingness to exercise their vote, and 
                reverence for the fundamental American values of 
                freedom, tolerance, and equality.

                 But today American citizenship requires more. At the 
                Presidents' Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia 
                this past April, I joined with Vice President Gore; 
                former Presidents Ford, Carter, and Bush; General Colin 
                Powell; and other national and community leaders in 
                calling for a redefinition of American citizenship--a 
                definition that includes a profound commitment to 
                community service. Each of us must look into our own 
                neighborhoods and communities and reach out to help our 
                fellow Americans succeed. We can only fulfill America's 
                bright promise of freedom and opportunity by ensuring 
                that every citizen shares in that promise.

                In commemorating the signing of the Constitution and in 
                recognition of the importance of active, responsible 
                citizenship to preserve its blessings for our Nation, 
                the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 
                (36

[[Page 49122]]

                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, 1997, as Citizenship Day and September 17 through 
                September 23, 1997, as Constitution Week. I call upon 
                Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders 
                of civic, educational, and religious organizations, to 
                conduct meaningful ceremonies and programs in our 
                schools, churches, and other community centers to 
                foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the 
                Constitution and the rights and duties of citizenship.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 97-25116
Filed 9-18-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P