Every year, MIT celebrates the day in 1787 when 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadephia signed the Constitution of the United States of America. This pivotal document — just four handwritten pages in length — established the framework of our government and the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor described it as "the most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed. ... What was revolutionary when it was written, and what continues to inspire the world today, is that the Constitution put governance in the hands of the people."
Constitution Day is an opportunity to honor this historic document. Here's how:
Register to vote
The Cambridge Election Commission will be registering voters today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lobby 10. (Note: You must be a U.S. citizen.)
Refresh your Constitutional knowledge
Pick up a pocket-sized constitution in Lobby 10 today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and read this surprisingly short, but profoundly impactful, document.
Explore the Constitution and Constitutional Amendments online, available in nine different languages.
Test your knowledge of the Constitution via an interactive quiz.
Review an MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) course on a topic related to the Constitution:
- American Classics (21H.105)
- American History to 1865 (21H.101)
- American Political Thought (17.037/17.038)
- Constitutional Law: Structures of Power and Individual Rights (17.245)
- Law and Society in US History (21H.224)
- The American Revolution (21H-112)
Join the conversation
As a dynamic framework for America's system of government, the Constitution is subject to ongoing analysis, debate, and modification. The National Constitution Center (NCC) offers many ways to explore current issues from a Constitutional perspective:
- Read the NCC’s Daily Blog.
- Listen to a recent NCC podcast on topics such as online privacy or the constitutionality of teacher tenure.
- View one of NCC’s “America's Town Hall” videos, featuring scholars and thought leaders from around the world.
