Constitution Day
Constitution Day is a federal day of observance that recognizes the date the at the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention. It also recognizes those who have become U.S. Citizens.
Constitution Day requires educational institutions that received federal funds to provide educational programming to students regarding the U.S. Constitution each year on September 17th.
Let your voice be heard!
Register to vote and celebrate Constitution Day at UH West Oʻahu!
Look for the red, white, and blue rings for the month of September 2024.
- Date: Tuesday, September 17th 2024.
- Time: 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
- Location: Naulu Center inside and under the eaves of Naulu Center
- Presentation: The State of Hawai’i, Office of Elections – “The Mechanics of Voting.” Presentation begins at 11 AM in the Naulu Center
Note: For students in related History or Political Science courses who will be offered extra credit by their faculty, a specialized attendance card will be provided at the end of the presentation proving attendance.
- Why should you attend?
- Free cupcakes!
- Lots of snacks!
- Giveaways!
- Fun activities!
- Hang out with friends!
- Important information!
- Test your knowledge about the Constitution and be entered to win a prize! Scan the QR Code below to take the quiz.
- Additional campus resource information on:
- Mental Health
- Disability
- Title IX
- Library
- No’eau Center
- UH West O’ahu Veterans Center
Participate in the UH West O'ahu Constitution Events!
Constitution Quiz
Participants must achieve an 80% or higher to have their name entered to win a prize!
Scan the QR code on the side to access the Constitution Quiz. Link to the Constitution Quiz.
Below are helpful resources to answer the quiz such as a short video about the Constitution and a brief description of the 27 amendments.
Students are allowed only 1 submission.
Register to Vote!
Students can check to see if they are register to vote or not by using the following QR code.
Currently enrolled students who have not yet registered to vote, can enter for a chance to win prizes! Simply fill out the form using the following QR code. If you register to vote online, please submit a screenshot of your submission confirmation page once you have completed the registration process. Register to vote here: https://olvr.hawaii.gov/. Link to acknowledge voter registration here. Example of confirmation screenshot: Image.
For in-person participants, please fill out the form once you have been identified as registered by a registration attendant.
Students are allowed only 1 submission.
Learn about the Constitution!
Constitution FAQS
Signed on September 17th, 1787 and is the fundamental framework of America’s system of government including separation of power, systems of checks and balances, description of duties and purpose, election system, and much more. To find out more visit the National Constitution Center’s Website.
Nope! They are distinct documents but connected in such a way that one was created as an effect of the other. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 to justify separation from British rule whereas the Constitution was a charter of government that is classified as the supreme law of the land. Both documents were signed at Independence Hall 11 years apart.
The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention (now know as the Constitution Convention) which occurred from May 25th to September 17, 1787. Learn more about Independence Hall!
There were 55 delegates who participated in the months of passionate, thoughtful deliberation in creating the Constitution. Only 39 of the 55 delegates signed the constitution though. While James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” because of his driving force of the convention and his notes on the deliberations that occurred in the several months of creation, there were many other notable contributors who served on the Committee of Detail and the Committee of Style.
It was the first time in history that any country had ever allowed its citizens to choose the government they wanted to be represented by. Democracy has continued to this day to be nourished and defended as the “inspiration that changed the trajectory of world history for the perpetual benefit of mankind” as stated so eloquently by Sandra Day O’Connor in The Constitution; The Essential User’s Guide. The Constitution put all of the power in the hands of the people.
The Twenty-Seven Amendments
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;–the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;–The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.–]The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
Prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol for beverage purpose.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.