[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9323 of September 16, 2015

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

At the culmination of months of deliberation, debate, and compromise, on
September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was
signed. Colonists came together in bold pursuit of a roadmap for
citizenship and a framework for our democracy--exemplifying the
statesmanship and character that would forever set our Nation apart.
Yielding to the power of shared ideals over stubborn opinion, our
forefathers upheld a belief that remains at the heart of America today:
that men and women of free will have the capacity to shape their own
destinies.
These early patriots understood what it meant to be American. They
succeeded in crafting a document that enshrines our enduring faith in
the notion that being a citizen is about more than circumstances of
birth--we are bound together by our beliefs, our unalienable rights, and
the idea that we must accept certain obligations to one another and to
future generations. In what has become the supreme law of our land, and
in the ensuing amendments to it, we see a reflection of our Founding
Fathers' insistence that the task of perfecting our Union is never
finished--we must constantly take up the critical work of bettering
ourselves and our society. These ideals have driven America forward from
her nascence on the cobblestone streets of Philadelphia through today,
and we continue to shine as a beacon of hope and freedom to the rest of
the world.
Each year on Citizenship Day, we welcome our country's newest citizens
and reaffirm our proud legacy as a Nation of immigrants. In wave after
wave through the centuries, people from every corner of the globe have
come to our shores in pursuit of happiness and a better life for
themselves and their families. In their home countries, our Constitution
has stood out as an emblem of equality and representation for all. Those
of us who have been Americans our entire lives have an obligation to
remember that we were strangers once, too, and together we must work to
extend the promise that citizenship provides to all who seek liberty's
light. Since last year, we have redoubled these efforts by creating the
White House Task Force on New Americans--a Govern

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ment-wide effort tasked with better integrating immigrants and refugees
into American communities. The Task Force released its strategic plan in
April, which includes efforts to raise awareness about the rights,
responsibilities, and importance of United States citizenship. It is
essential that we encourage individuals who are eligible to take an
important step in their American journey and commit to becoming a
citizen.
On this day and throughout this week, let us honor the values for which
the Framers stood by rededicating ourselves to carrying forward the
spirit first embodied in their achievements--that what makes our country
great is not that we are perfect, but that we can face our imperfections
and decide that it is in our power to remake our Nation to more closely
align with our highest ideals. With time, courage, and the participation
of our citizenry, we can pay tribute to those who shaped the land we
love today while working to secure everlasting peace, prosperity, and
opportunity for all who call America home.
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, 2015, as Constitution Day and
Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2015, 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 fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA