HSU Marks Constitution Day

Sep 11, 2009 - Paul Mann

Humboldt State University’s Department of Politics is broadening outreach for the annual celebration of Constitution Day, Thursday, Sept. 17, reaching a wider audience through interactive games and resources on the Web. Students and the public can test their knowledge of the Constitution with an online quiz and “Jeopardy” game at the following links:

• Constitution Quiz

• Double Jeopardy Constitution Game

There is a great deal of information on the U.S. Constitution available online. The following were selected by faculty in the Department of Politics as among the best interactive resources available for students:

• National Constitution Center

• “Do you Have the Right?”

• Expert Commentary, including Supreme Court Justices

• U.S. Courts Constitution Day page

• Creating the United States Constitution

• Documents from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention

• “America’s Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention”

As of 2005, all federally funded schools are required to educate on the U.S. Constitution on September 17, the anniversary of the signing in 1787 after months of debate in Philadelphia. A statute adopted by Congress at the end of 2004 changed the name of Citizenship Day to Constitution Day and mandated that all school districts receiving federal funding must instruct students about the Constitution on September 17, or the week following if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.

On past Constitution Days, Humboldt State hosted public talks and panel discussions, a high school essay competition, a survey of student knowledge and other events.