Congress has mandated that the date of the signing of the Constitution, Sept. 17, 1787, be commemorated. Prior to COVID-19, schools, colleges, and communities would have public gatherings to celebrate Constitution Day. Similar celebrations are impossible this year, because COVID-19 has forced so many of our public institutions to operate under severe constraints. However, despite these difficult times, we should not entirely forego the celebration of Constitution Day, as we have much to celebrate about the Constitution and our democracy. Thomas Jefferson often wrote about the importance of an informed citizenry to the proper functioning of our democracy. He wrote that self-government, as envisioned in the Constitution, would not be possible unless the people were sufficiently educated to exercise proper oversight of the government. Learning about the Constitution is essential to becoming equipped to exercise that oversight. The wisdom of the Framers of the Constitution paves the way as we work through the adjustments our society has had to make in the wake of COVID-19. The President, the governors of the various states, Congress and state legislatures, and other federal and state government officials have claimed emergency powers to close businesses, churches, and schools; issue stay at-home orders; limit […]
News from around the world. Curated by Mark McDowell. Posts do not constitute agreement or endorsement.