Constitution Day is next Wednesday, September 17.
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. It replaced the Articles of Confederation as the document defining the new government. Educational programs are provided by publicly funded educational institutions and federal agencies to celebrate the day.
Those programs provide only superficial and slanted views. While there were many elements of the original U.S. Constitution that were indeed revolutionary and democratic, many others affirmed top down control, ingrained property rights over human rights and excluded a majority of the population. We, the People did not – and still do not – include ALL the People.
Social movements for more than two centuries have forced the adoption of amendments and established a culture that led to Supreme Court decisions that included some rights of groups who should have been originally included in the founding document.
It’s up to us to become more constitutionally literate: to understand what the Constitution is and isn’t, to view it as a document that we have a right – as those who’ve come before us – to reshape to reflect current times in the quest to create real democracy in this country – for the very first time.
Toward that end, here are a few resources to study, share and discuss. Since the Constitution establishes the basic “rules” of government, it is urgent that all of us seek to democratize those rules to create more justice, peace, and sustainability in all of their forms.
Key U.S. Constitution Resources
Legalize Democracy
Our original 28-minute film that explores three interrelated constitutional and legal histories – people’s rights, corporate rights and legal oppression. Go HERE to watch the film and review the discussion guide.
Take Action (3 suggestions):
- Watch the film (for the first time or again) and review the discussion guide.
- Share the link above on social media, encouraging others to watch the film and review the discussion guide.
- Invite a few (or more!) friends, neighbors, others online or in person to watch the film and discuss the questions.
Rights and Privileges Timeline Exercise
The Rights and Privileges Timeline is a great exercise (for students especially, but adults too!) because it involves examining injustice and corporate power, includes movement and requires participation. This adaptation has been adjusted from the original presentation to suit a shorter amount of time so the presenter can get through the whole exercise in 45-60 minutes with discussion and debrief.
You can watch the excellent video of the full length, original exercise: Click here.
Take Action (3 suggestions):
- Watch the video of the original exercise
- Share the link above on social media, encouraging others to watch the video
-
Invite a few (or more!) friends, neighbors, others in person to participate in the exercise. This involves printing these cards (one sheet per case, not double sided) for the exercise... It works best if you print each timeline on a different color paper:
Corporate Rights Cards
People's Rights Cards
Legal Oppression Cards
Here are some questions that might help debrief the information covered in the timeline. Keep in mind that the timeline exercise can be emotional for many people and often presents new (and potentially disturbing) information.
Timeline of Personhood Rights
The Timeline of Personhood Rights was developed by Jan Edwards for the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Jan led the effort to pass the first ever resolution to end corporate personhood in her town of Point Arena, CA in 2000. It has been recently updated HERE
This timeline is a great educational tool to explain how corporations have used the legal system to gain constitutional "personhood rights" through court decisions and how people have organized to gain constitutional rights through amendments (with a few exceptions).
Take Action (3 suggestions):
- Review the timeline (for the first time or again) on your own.
- Share the timeline link (https://assets.nationbuilder.com/movetoamend/pages/660/attachments/original/1693167200/REVISED_Handout_timeline_of_personhood_rights_and_powers_updated_Late2023.pdf?1693167200) on social media, encouraging others to review it
- Invite a few (or more!) friends, neighbors, others online or in person to discuss the timeline.
------
Becoming more literate of the U.S. Constitution and its amendments AND internalizing that it must be a priority of our activism are essential steps toward its democratization and, by extension, the ability of us in the present to create a just society and sustainable natural world.
Onward in creating a more democratic Constitution that we all deserve,
Kelsey, Jennie, Alfonso, Jessica, Tara, Cole, Shelly, George, Daniel, Jason, Katie, Keyan, Michael, Margaret & Greg
-- Move to Amend National Team
