[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7705 of September 16, 2003
 
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 2003

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

In the summer of 1787, representatives from the States met in
Philadelphia to establish a new Constitution that would unite America.
They intended the Constitution to achieve six purposes: ``to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide
for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.'' Their work was
successful and enduring. For more than two centuries, the American
people have honored the foresight and wisdom of the Framers by
respecting and defending our Constitution.
Our Constitution and our country have grown stronger over the last 216
years--through wars, searing internal conflicts, and great social,
economic, and technological change. In the last 2 years, America has
again been tested, this time by terrorist attacks designed to strike at
our people, our institutions, and our constitutional government. In the
wake of those attacks, we have renewed and strengthened our commitment
to a more perfect Union and common defense, to justice and domestic
tranquility, to the general welfare and the blessings of liberty.
On Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we remember those who
have fought and those who have died to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution. We recall and reiterate the vow of President Abraham
Lincoln that these ``dead shall not have died in vain--that this Nation,
under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.''

[[Page 3086]]
117 STAT. 3086

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, as amended), designated September 17 as ``Citizenship Day,''
and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended),
requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17
and ending September 23 of each year as ``Constitution Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2003, as Citizenship Day, and
September 17 through September 23, 2003, 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 to celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our commitment as
citizens to 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 three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH