The Jack Miller Center is proud to support 31 new Constitution Day event programs for colleges, universities, and scholars around the country. These Constitution Day grants will provide full or partial support for debates, lectures, seminars, and other events aimed at improving constitutional literacy for students, campus faculty and staff, and the greater public.  

“The Constitution Day Initiative plays a vital role in our mission. It improves student understanding of our Constitution by enabling access to excellent scholars of the American Founding—many of whom are part of our JMC network,” said Tom Cleveland, executive director of the American Political Tradition Project at the Jack Miller Center. 

Constitution Day marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. In 2004, Congress officially designated September 17 as Constitution Day, requiring public schools and government offices to promote constitutional literacy. Many institutions, however, lack the resources to host a quality program or forgo programming altogether.

“More than ever, young people need to feel connected to the American founding, that the American experiment in self-government is an integral part of their lives and history. Constitution Day is a perfect opportunity for students to make this vital connection,” said Jeffrey Tyler Syck, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Pikeville.