Actually, the day is Sept. 17th, but the national celebration throughout schools and government is designated this year as Sept. 18th because the 17th falls on a Sunday.
Sept. 17th 1787 was when the constitution was finalized by the delegates and signed it in Philadelphia. The individual states ratified it later - Delaware if you recall was the first state.
Today on Keith Olberman, Constitutional Scholar and Law Professor Jonathan Turley was trying to definitely point out the irony of the active push for legalizing torture and changing the definition of common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions that this administration was doing is an assault on the Constitution and right around the same time we are supposed to be celebrating the Constitution.
The debate and vote on the floor of the Senate will be most likely on Monday, the actual Constitution Day or in the days following it before they break for another recess...
The Democrats must point this out and make it very clear that what the Bush Administration is doing is a deliberate assault on the Constitution.
Meanwhile, check out another irony...Look who is giving the recitation of the Pre-amble:
http://www.constitutionday.com/Yes, Mr. Colin Powell...
GENERAL COLIN POWELL WILL LEAD THE NATIONWIDE ANNUAL TRADITIONAL RECITATION OF THE PREAMBLE TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2006 (11AM PST/ 2PM EST). .
THIS YEARS’ RECITATION WILL BE DEDICATED TO AND HONOR OUR MILITARY ALL AROUND THE WORLD. PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS SALUTE.
Finally - Another Irony: That it was previously celebrated as "Citizenship Day"....until George W. Bush signed it into law in 2004....