[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 65169-65170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22951]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 184 / Thursday, September 22, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 65169]]

                Proclamation 9497 of September 16, 2016

                
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, 
                Constitution Week, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Tasked with the awesome responsibility of building a 
                Government to endure for generations to come, a band of 
                dedicated patriots gathered in Philadelphia in 1787, 
                seeking to build a more stable and permanent framework 
                for a nascent democracy. Passionate debates and intense 
                negotiation gave way to lasting compromise, and a 
                document emerged that became the bedrock of America. 
                Signed on September 17, the Constitution of the United 
                States has steered our country through ever-changing 
                times. It guides us as leaders on the world stage and 
                safeguards the fundamental rights of our citizens. And 
                it guarantees that the greatness of our Nation never 
                depends on any one person--it requires the full and 
                active participation of an engaged and vibrant 
                citizenry.

                The vision of self-government laid out in our 
                Constitution is dependent on Americans doing the hard 
                and sometimes frustrating--yet always essential--work 
                of citizenship. Being a citizen is a responsibility 
                that challenges each of us to stay informed, to speak 
                out when something is not right or not just, and to 
                come together to shape the course our country will 
                take. Citizenship is a commitment, calling on us to 
                stand up for what we believe in and to exercise our 
                rights to protect the rights of others. The Bill of 
                Rights and other amendments added in the decades that 
                followed have paved the way for progress, and they 
                embody a truth held since our founding: the simple but 
                powerful idea that people who love their country can 
                change it for the better.

                America is more than a piece of land--it is an idea, a 
                place where we can contribute our talents, fulfill our 
                ambitions, and be part of something bigger than 
                ourselves. Each year on Citizenship Day, we celebrate 
                our newest citizens who raise their hands and swear a 
                sacred oath to join our American family. The journey 
                they have taken reminds us that immigration is our 
                origin story. For centuries, immigrants have brought 
                diverse beliefs, cultures, languages, and traditions to 
                our country, and they have pledged to uphold the ideals 
                expressed in our founding documents. They come from all 
                around the world, mustering faith that in America, they 
                can build a better life and give their children 
                something more. That is why I was proud to create the 
                White House Task Force on New Americans, which is 
                helping to build welcoming communities around our 
                country and enhance civic, economic, and linguistic 
                integration for immigrants and refugees. Through the 
                Task Force, Federal agencies and local communities are 
                working together to raise awareness about the rights, 
                responsibilities, and opportunities of citizenship--and 
                to give immigrants and refugees the tools they need to 
                succeed.

                As a Nation of immigrants, our legacy is rooted in 
                their success. Their contributions help us live up to 
                our founding principles. With pride in our diverse 
                heritage and in our common creed, we affirm our 
                dedication to the values enshrined in our Constitution. 
                We, the people, must forever breathe life into the 
                words of this precious document, and together ensure 
                that its principles endure for generations to come.

[[Page 65170]]

                In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and 
                in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold 
                the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the 
                Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 
                U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as ``Constitution 
                Day and Citizenship Day,'' and by joint resolution of 
                August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the 
                President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and 
                ending September 23 of each year as ``Constitution 
                Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 
                17, 2016, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and 
                September 17 through September 23, 2016, as 
                Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and 
                local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, 
                and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies 
                and programs that bring together community members to 
                reflect on the importance of active citizenship, 
                recognize the enduring strength of our Constitution, 
                and reaffirm our commitment to the rights and 
                obligations of citizenship in this great Nation.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-22951
Filed 9-21-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P