Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat and the United States Congress unofficial constitutional scholar, believes that American primary, secondary, and post-secondary students lack significant knowledge regarding the United States Constitution. In December 2004, Senator Byrd offered an amendment that was passed by both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate in attempt to increase constitutional knowledge.

The legislation requires that all educational institutions that receive federal funds implement educational programs relating to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. September 17th was selected as the date for celebration due to the fact that on September 17, 1787 the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the United States Constitution and presented it to the American public.

The United States Department of Education, charged with implementation of this legislative requirement, intentionally left the implementation language vague. With no specific curriculum or interpretation of the United States Constitution provided by The U.S. Department of Education or Senator Byrd, academic institutions are free to provide a wide array of programming for their students. MIAD has chosen to provide web access to some important information about the United States Constitution.

An open discussion about constitutional issues is being held over the next week in the Financial Aid Office, off the new MIAD Cafe. Stop in!

The Constitution
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The Bill of Rights
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Amendments 11-27
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The Federalist Papers
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Constitution Question and Answers
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Signers of the Constitution
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