[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 38 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Pages 1235-1236]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7705--Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 2003

 September 16, 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.''
    In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition 
of the Americans

[[Page 1236]]

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

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., September 
18, 2003]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 17, and it was published in the Federal Register 
on September 19. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a 
Spanish language version of this proclamation.