Constitution Week

Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.

- Thomas Jefferson

Why Constitution Week?

《十大正规赌平台平台》序言指出:“我们美利坚合众国人民……制定并制定本宪法。.” That means US…you and me, along with more than 332,000,000 other Americans. 宪法通过选举程序和以人民主权为基础的政府结构，将政府的最终权力委托给人民, republicanism, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances and individual liberty.

In four pages containing only 4,400 words, 宪法是世界上最古老的成文宪法，也是最短的成文宪法. 自1788年被批准以来，它只被修改了27次，并影响了其他150多个国家的宪法.

Article VI of the Constitution declares the “the Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land.”

Sadly, a majority of Americans are woefully ignorant of the Constitution, yet it is the “supreme law of the land” and “we the people” are sovereign. How can a viable government by the people, of the people, and for the people be sustained if the people are ignorant of how that government works?

使用所有寻求美国公民身份的移民都必须参加的简单公民考试中的问题, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation surveyed nearly 50,000 Americans in all fifty states. In only one state, Vermont, was a majority of those surveyed able to pass that test. 在我们最顶尖的高等教育机构中，80%的高年级学生无法通过基本的高中历史考试.

On September 17, 1787, 55名代表代表最初的13个州中的12个州，在为美国起草新宪法后休会. It became “the supreme law of the land” upon ratification by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. September 17 is now celebrated as Constitution Day. The week in which September 17 occurs is known as Constitution Week.

While understanding our Constitution, 它创建的政府以及公民的权利和责任应该是一个持续的努力, 宪法周提供了一个绝佳的机会，让我们把地方和全国的注意力集中在这些重要的话题上，并更新我们对“我们人民”政府的认识和承诺."

Center for Civics Education Photo Banner

Constitution Week at Concordia

每年，欧文康考迪亚大学的公民教育中心都会与美国宪法学会合作纪念宪法周, the Veterans’ Resource Center, the Department of History and Political Thought and other campus organizations. Our goals are to inform, inspire and involve students, 教职员工对于“国家的最高法律”和我们作为公民的权利和责任——我们是人民.

该中心最近与理查德·尼克松总统图书馆和博物馆共同主办了一系列关于《菲律宾十大网赌网站》的18场讲座, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and remaining amendments. Featuring professors from Concordia University Irvine and California State University, you can watch the lectures here.

To learn more about the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the men who drafted the Constitution and the times in which they lived, you can watch here for a series of lively conversations with experts, scholars and authors as well as music from “Convention: The Birth of America.”

Events: 2023 Constitution Week at CUI

For a preliminary preview of Constitution Week at CUI, see below and watch for details to be added during the summer.

Sunday, September 17
5:00 – 7:00 pm | Constitution on the Green
Lively patriotic music, food and fun for the CUI family
Outdoors by the CUI Center
More details to come!

Monday, September 18
7:00 – 8:00 pm | Convocation Speaker
Details to come!

Tuesday, September 19
12:00 – 1:30 pm | Interview with George Washington
During his second visit to CUI, General George Washington will discuss his role as President of the Constitutional Convention, his views about other delegates, why he believed we needed a constitution, and much more!
Location TBD

Wednesday, September 20
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Debate
布莱恩·桑廷教授和纽约康考迪亚大学前校长约翰·努内斯将辩论“宪法值得拯救吗??每位辩手都将在这场探究性和发人深省的交流中阐述辩论的双方观点
Location TBD

Friday, September 22
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Pizza and Constitutional Trivia Night
Enjoy pizza and pie as you test your knowledge about the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and additional sixteen amendments, the Founding Fathers, and how the Constitution was created
Prizes for the winners!

Tuesday - Wednesday
在自助餐厅前的宪法周信息亭参与宪法测试, games, online signing of the Constitution, puzzles, free pocket-sized Constitutions and more. Does your political philosophy align with Alexander Hamilton? Thomas Jefferson? John Adams? Benjamin Franklin? James Madison? Come to the kiosk and find out…and take the Constitution Quiz.

Sunday - Saturday
访问CUI图书馆查看有关宪法制定和批准的展示和资源链接, the men who drafted it, how it is interpreted and how it has changed over time.

Watch this site for updates and additional events and activities.

CUI Constitutional Essay Contest

崔公民教育中心|崔英语系|崔历史政治思想

我们很高兴地宣布，第二届美国宪法征文比赛即将开始，目的是让CUI的学生了解美国宪法, its underlying principles and purposes as well as its role as “the supreme law of the land.“第一名论文的作者将获得1000美元，并在各种网站和出版物上发表文章或节选. The author of the second-place essay will receive $500.

Essay Contest Question

Contestants may choose one of three questions. See below. Choose only one question.

Contest Rules

DEADLINE: All essays must be received by 11:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Friday, September 8, 2023. Essays must be submitted to [email protected].
ELIGIBILITY: All currently enrolled CUI undergraduate students are eligible to participate. Submissions must include the author’s:
- Name
- Address
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Class (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
- Major

Essay Requirements

By submitting an essay, you are declaring that it is an original work. Primary and secondary sources may be included if properly attributed, but the essay must be your own original work.
By submitting an essay, 您同意将文章和/或节选发表在网上或纸质出版物上.
Each essay must be double-spaced, between 1000 – 1250 words (4 – 5 pages) and submitted in Times New Roman, 12-pont font.
All essays must be submitted in English.

Essay Adjudication

Upon receipt, each essay will be assigned a number. Judges will not know the identity of authors until final judging has been completed.
竞赛评委将包括代表我校英语系、历史系和政治思想系的教师，以及至少一名与论文题目相关的专业人士.

Prizes

The prize for the best essay is $1000 U.S. The prize for the second-best essay is $500 U.S. 整篇文章和/或获奖文章的节选将在网上和/或纸质出版物上发表.

Essay Questions

Submit questions to Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham at [email protected].

CUI Essay Contest on the Constitution: Choose ONE of three essay questions.

Amending the Constitution. Since the Constitution of the United States was put into operation on March 4, 1789, nearly 12,000 amendments have been proposed in Congress. Only thirty-three were sent to the States for ratification. Of those, twenty-seven have been ratified and become part of the Constitution. The first Congress proposed and sent to the states for ratification twelve amendments, ten of which were ratified and became known as the Bill of Rights. 剩下的两项原始提案中的一项于1992年获得批准，被列为第二十七修正案. 如果你可以提出一项宪法修正案，你会提出什么修正案，为什么要提出? What other parts of the Constitution, if any, would be affected by your amendment? 你提出的修正案会对政府的权力和/或人民的权利产生什么影响?
The First Amendment and Free Speech. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws abridging the freedom of speech. 最高法院对第十四修正案的解释是将第一修正案的禁令也适用于各州. However, freedom of speech is not unlimited. Speech that actively incites violence or creates imminent danger is not protected. In recent years, there have been calls prohibit “hate” speech. Such speech is not defined in United States law, 但联合国的一份备忘录将仇恨言论定义为“任何形式的言论交流”, writing or behavior, 针对某人或某一群体的身份攻击或使用轻蔑或歧视的语言, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.” Should laws against hate speech be supported? If so, how should hate speech be defined and who should decide? If not, why not and what are the ramifications of banning hate speech? In your essay, consider the overall value of free speech and implications of limiting any form of speech.
Executive Authority. 总统和一些国会议员主张免除全部或部分学生贷款. The estimated cost could be approximately $400 billion. The debate centers on many differences of opinion regarding 1) transfer of wealth from taxpayers to people who borrowed money to go to college; 2) whether the President has the power to make such a decision; and 3) the overall economic and social benefits of student loan forgiveness. The issue has been argued before the United States Supreme Court; its decision is expected in June or July. Do you support or oppose student loan forgiveness? In your answer, address the three issues listed above. If you write your essay after the Supreme Court’s decision is published, 你可能想阅读判决书，并考虑多数法官提出的论点和少数法官提出的论点(假设判决不是一致的)。.