Celebrate Bill of Rights Day

It’s not too late. Today, December 15, 2011, is Bill of Rights Day in America. In 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed this day to celebrate the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents.

As you know, the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, includes the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These cover your right to free speech, religion, protection from unreasonable searches, and the right to bear arms among other freedoms.

There are several informative web sites that we recommend for more information about your rights and responsibilities as growing tweens and teens. You may be surprised by what you discover on these sites. They also provide valuable data and explanations for research projects, term papers and any speeches you may deliver. Take a look at one of these to appreciate the words and intent of early Americans and their foresight in drafting language for the world’s longest surviving democracy.

iCivics.org     (a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. iCivics is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor).

Bill of Rights Institute     (educating young people about the Constitution).

Archives.gov  (educates young people about the words and ideas of America’s Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and share a free society).