On 16 September, the United States will celebrate Constitution Day nationally. Although it does not get the fanfare as other national holidays that celebrate the U.S. national experience, such as the 4th of July and Memorial Day, it is still important to consider. Haven’t heard of it before? Here is a brief summary: Constitution Day became a national observance in 2004 when Senator Robert Byrd passed a bill designating September 16the as the day for citizens to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and learn more about this founding document. Senator Byrd once said, “Our ideals of freedom, set forth and realized in our Constitution, are our greatest export to the world.” He added the Constitution Day clause to his 2004 federal spending bill because he believed that all citizens should know about their rights as outlined in the Constitution. This clause mandates the teaching of the Constitution in schools that receive federal funds, as well as federal agencies. Haven’t read the Constitution in a while….or really considered the Amendments? This link to the National Constitution Center will offer an interactive experience: http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution Forum Discussion Requirement (at least 250 words) Please choose one of the following activities (or more if you want): Activity 1: Go to http://www.constitutionfacts.com/ – follow at least one link and discuss what you learned and if you discovered anything surprising (be sure to check out the Fascinating Facts subheadings). Activity 2: Explain what the constitution means to you and how it relates to your life and/or work. Activity 3: Take the quiz: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/?page=quiz.cfm Tell us what you learned and what, if anything, surprised you.