[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 51183-51184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24781]



[[Page 51181]]

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Part II





The President





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Proclamation 7222--Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 1999



Proclamation 7223--Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week, 1999
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 21, 1999 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 51183]]

                Proclamation 7222 of September 16, 1999

                
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 1999

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The Constitution is perhaps our Nation's most cherished 
                document, the compass that has helped us chart 
                America's course toward freedom, human dignity, and 
                democracy for more than 200 years. Its text, born of 
                the genius and idealism of our Founders and hammered 
                out through hard effort and compromise by the delegates 
                to the Constitutional Convention, established a system 
                of government capable of responding to the pressures of 
                social and political change. It created a sacred 
                covenant that continues to bind all our citizens by a 
                set of principles based on the ideals of equality, 
                inclusion, and independence and by a delicate balance 
                of powers, rights, and responsibilities among citizens 
                and their State and Federal Governments. Today, 
                sustained by the efforts and sacrifices of generations 
                of Americans, the U.S. Constitution remains as strong 
                and vibrant a charter of freedom as it was at the time 
                of its signing 212 years ago.

                The 20th century has witnessed a great wave of 
                migration of men and women to our Nation from all parts 
                of the globe, attracted by the freedom, justice, and 
                rule of law guaranteed by our Constitution. As they 
                assume the responsibilities of American citizenship, 
                they infuse our political process with fresh 
                perspectives and enthusiasm and prove to the world that 
                a diverse people can live in peace and progress. Today 
                we are a Nation with new hopes, new dreams, and new 
                people, but we are united by a devotion to the same 
                democratic ideals that have guided us for over 200 
                years.

                As we reflect upon America's past, we recognize that 
                our country is still in the act of becoming the ``more 
                perfect union'' envisioned by our Founders. Every 
                generation of Americans has struggled to live up to our 
                Nation's promise, working to overcome forces of fear or 
                ignorance or prejudice that would seek to deny the 
                rights of others because of their gender, race, 
                religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The 21st 
                century may bring new challenges to the rights and 
                liberties of American citizens, but we can be confident 
                that the Constitution will still light a clear and 
                shining path of freedom and justice into the future.

                During Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, let us 
                recognize the great efforts not only of our leaders, 
                but also of ordinary Americans who labor daily to 
                uphold and strengthen the ideals embodied in our 
                Constitution. Whether citizens by birth or choice, we 
                share the blessings guaranteed to us by the 
                Constitution and the responsibility of ensuring that 
                those blessings are extended to all our people equally.

                In commemoration of the signing of the Constitution and 
                in recognition of the importance of active, responsible 
                citizenship in preserving the Constitution's blessings 
                for our Nation, 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 (U.S.C. 159), requested that the 
                President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and 
                ending September 23 of each year as ``Constitution 
                Week.''

[[Page 51184]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 
                17, 1999, as Citizenship Day and September 17 through 
                September 23, 1999, 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, houses of worship, and other community centers 
                to foster a greater understanding andappreciation of 
                the Constitution and the rights and duties of 
                citizenship. I also call on all citizens to rededicate 
                themselves to the principles of the Constitution.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 99-24781
Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P