A deserved day of honor for the U.S. Constitution

Career cynics in the crowd might be tempted to decry this week's federally ordered observance of Constitution Day as yet another unfunded and outrageous mandate thrust upon the states by those nincompoops in Washington.
Refreshingly, however, we've heard nary a peep of protest about the drive to encourage study of the U.S. Constitution, the 218-year-old foundation of American government. Constitution Day -- which schools throughout the region and the nation have been observing over the past week -- makes sense. The document shouldn't need a nudge from Uncle Sam to occupy a place of honor in school curriculum.
About the observance
The new mandate was tacked onto this year's appropriations bill by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who became alarmed by reports showing that history and civics education are losing the prominent place they once held in American education. The goal is to increase understanding of the Constitution and its importance in the development and maintenance of our government.
Byrd's aim is on target. Many Americans remain shamefully illiterate in knowledge of the Constitution, a resilient document that pervades public affairs.
Many would have no clue as to the importance of this very day. It was on this date in 1787 that 55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to sign the U.S. Constitution.
Now 218 years later, many Americans have lost grasp of the contents and the significance of the document. Surveys show an embarrassingly large segment of the nation ignorant of its preamble, seven articles and 27 amendments. A Harris Poll commissioned by the American Bar Association this year found that only 48 percent of Americans can correctly identify the meaning of separation of powers. Some 84 percent had difficulty differentiating the Constitution from the Declaration of Independence. (You can test your knowledge of the Constitution by taking the quiz at right.)
Despite such civic illiteracy, most still regard it highly. More than 75 percent of Americans in a recent National Constitution Center poll said the Constitution is important to them, makes them proud and plays a role in their daily lives.
Clearly it continues to shape public affairs. One need only scan some of this week's biggest headlines to recognize its enduring importance. Constitutional doctrine held center stage at the confirmation hearings of Judge John Roberts for chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Debate over the federal ruling outlawing the Pledge of Allegiance in some California public schools presents a case study in conflicting constitutional interpretations.
Get involved
Clearly, the U.S. Constitution remains a vibrant document worthy of all Americans' attention. There are still opportunities in coming days in the region to become actively engaged. Youngstown State University, for example, will host constitutional scholar Robert Bennett for an open lecture at noon Monday in Kilcawley Center. Bennett will discuss "The Inevitability of a Living Constitution." In addition, YSU's Maag Library is offering an interactive display on the Constitution through Sept. 23.
One of the best ways, however, to reacquaint yourself with the blueprint for the oldest federal democracy in the world is to revisit it directly. Visit the web site of the National Archives (where the original document remains under glass) at www.archives.gov to reread and rediscover its history-altering words.