[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 38 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
[Page 1425]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7932--Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution 
Week, 2005

 September 16, 2005

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    More than two centuries after our Founding Fathers gathered in 1787 
in Philadelphia, our Nation continues to be guided by the Constitution 
they drafted.
    The Constitution of the United States reflects our ideals and 
establishes a practical system of government. It provides for three 
separate branches--the legislative, the executive, and the judicial--
with defined responsibilities and with checks and balances among the 
branches. Under our Constitution, both the Federal Government and the 
State governments advance the will of the people through the people's 
representatives. To protect the rights of our citizens and maintain the 
rule of law, Article III of the Constitution provides for a judiciary of 
independent judges who have life tenure.
    These fundamental principles--separation of powers, federalism, and 
an independent judiciary--have endured, and they have been essential to 
our Nation's progress toward equal justice and liberty for all. On 
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we 
celebrate the genius of our Constitution and reaffirm our commitment to 
its stated 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.''
    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 ``Constitution Day 
and 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, 2005, as Constitution Day and 
Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2005, 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 celebrate our Constitution and 
reaffirm our rights and obligations as citizens of our great Nation.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day 
of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
thirtieth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., September 
20, 2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
September 21. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.