[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 37 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Pages 1219-1220]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8289--Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution 
Week, 2008

 September 17, 2008

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Americans are united by the ideals of equal justice, limited 
government, and the rule of law. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day 
and during Constitution Week, we remember the vision and determination 
of the Framers to build a free society, and we celebrate the historical 
document they created to achieve that goal.
    More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in 
Philadelphia and produced a charter that would promote justice and 
preserve the liberty of all our citizens. The Founders established three 
separate branches of Government with a system of checks and balances 
among them. Ours is the oldest written constitution in the world, and 
the American experiment remains the world's best hope for freedom.
    The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty and equality 
and has lifted the lives of countless individuals. Whether they are 
citizens by birth or by oath, Americans share a great tradition of 
enjoying liberty protected by a constitutional government of their 
choosing.
    On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution 
Week, Americans come together and recognize the blessings bestowed upon 
our great Nation. On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the 
Constitution's drafters and recommit ourselves to making the United 
States a more perfect union.
    In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and of Americans 
who strive to fulfill 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

[[Page 1220]]

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, 2008, as Constitution Day 
and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2008, 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 responsibilities as citizens of this great 
Nation.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth 
day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., September 
18, 2008]

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