A resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of "Constitution Day".

I thank my colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 734, which I introduced on September 10, honoring and supporting Constitution Day. I have always been grateful that so many of our country's greatest leaders and statesmen were able to be on Earth at the same time and place to draft the Constitution. Within this document are the fundamental principles of the American system of liberty. Our Constitution has been that beacon upon the hill, that guiding star at night in that shining city that millions of people around the world have long been guided by within their own countries.

The Constitution took 4 hard, acrimonious months from May to September 1787 to actually bring it to fruition through their hard labor. Again, the citizens that attended the convention in Philadelphia were some of our greatest leaders and scholars of government and history: Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Morris, and Washington. Many different ideas were brought to the convention. Were they only empowered to amend the Articles of Confederation? There is great debate about that. Could they go farther and start from scratch? Many a discussion was held in Philadelphia's boarding houses and taverns.

These members began debates on creating three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. James Madison, the Father of our Constitution, was one of the first to arrive in Philadelphia, and he brought with him his specifically researched ideas while others had theirs. You know, it turned out to be a very hot summer that year. There was no air conditioning. Secrecy was enforced. The proceedings mandated that all windows and doors be shut. Tempers flared, but through it all they worked because these men knew that they were creating a document that would be there for a Nation and for the ages.

The birth of a new Nation was being watched by the powers around the world. As mentioned, 55 delegates attended the Constitution Convention with 39 of them signing the document. What emerged was a document containing 4,400 words. The story goes that when asked what kind of new government was formed, Benjamin Franklin replied, ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' The Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written constitution of any form of government in the world.

Again, personally I marvel at what these individuals did and what they could accomplish in 4 months. Today, citizens should look to guidance from our Forefathers. All Americans should read this great document because, since the Constitution's ratification, it has been the framework for our great Nation. Not only did great men bring forth great ideas, but for 222 years, this great experiment that we call America has been paid for by hundreds of thousands of lives, the lives of our brave military men and women. Let the living always remember to give thanks to our honored dead, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice that the Constitution of the United States remains our guiding light.

Too few citizens today have read this important document and understand its importance. It is short, and it should be learned, and it should be studied. The preamble of our document states that ``We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'' The words ``We the People'' affirm that any power of the Federal Government is given to by the people of this great land, and we in Congress must always remember that.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 734) expressing the support for and honoring September 17, 2009 as ``Constitution Day,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may

have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the Oversight Committee, I now present House Resolution 734 for consideration. This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals embodied in Constitution Day. House Resolution 734 was introduced on September 10, 2009, by my colleague, Representative Robert Latta of Ohio, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee on September 24, 2009. In addition, this resolution enjoys the support of over 60 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 734 expresses our support for Constitution Day, which is routinely celebrated on September 17. Eleven years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 55 delegates from the first American States came together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to create a Constitution for a Federal Republic. After much hard work and careful deliberation, the Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 States.

As the supreme law of the United States, the Constitution provides the basic structure for the organization of the American Government. It is no exaggeration to say that the United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in history, often referred to as a living document. This framework from our representative and democratic system of government has served the American people for over 200 years, making it the oldest Federal Constitution still in use in the world. With its separation of powers, its checks and balances and preservation of rights, the Constitution is a worthy example to burgeoning democracies everywhere.

Furthermore, the values and principles it enshrines continue to be central to our Nation's identity. I am sure my colleagues share my pride in serving, protecting and defending the United States Constitution, and I am pleased that we are taking the opportunity today to honor this most treasured document of our democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 734.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their remarks and support of this resolution. I urge them to support Mr. Latta and his lead sponsorship of this resolution in support of the goals and ideals of Constitution Day, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 734.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 734, which expresses support for and honors September 17, 2009, as ``Constitution Day.'' September 17 is the day that our United States Constitution was signed in 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 states, including from Connecticut, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott, and Roger Sherman, whose statue resides in the crypt of this Capitol building.

My home state of Connecticut has a strong and proud connection to the founding principles and documents of this country. Roger Sherman was the only man to sign the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Connecticut itself is known as the Constitution State, for its enactment of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the first written constitution of its kind.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was adopted by the Connecticut Colony in 1639 and established a government for the Connecticut Colony, based on the yearly election of a governor and six magistrates, two from each town in the Colony. These officials were chosen by the count of a written vote, and all freedmen who resided in the colony and had taken an oath of fidelity were eligible to cast their vote.

The Fundamental Orders established limits on the powers of government, emphasizing the power of the people to elect their leaders and act against them should those leaders ignore their concerns. Further, it defined the operating procedures of a government established by the people, of the people, and for the people, ensuring each elected magistrate a vote in matters of governance, and the governor a vote only in the event of a tie.

Many of the principles in the eleven sections of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut later were echoed in the familiar cadences of our great Constitution, which continues to represent the American ideal of a government consisting of a body of officials elected by the people to serve in their best interests.

It was Roger Sherman's ``Connecticut Compromise'', made during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which ensured fair representation for large and small states in the bicameral legislature which defines our body of Congress.

As a high school history teacher, I had the privilege of studying, learning, and teaching the Constitution. It is the innovation and undiminished endurance of the ideals of our Constitution for which I rise in support of

House Resolution 734 to express support for and honor September 17, 2009, as ``Constitution Day.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio, the author of H. Res. 734, Mr. Latta.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the passage of H. Res. 734, and I yield back the balance of my time.