Here is the third Bar Leader Toolkit. This issue brings together ABA resources on Constitution Day.

Lawyers have a distinctive relationship with the Constitution beginning with their oath to uphold the laws of the United States established by the Constitution when they begin practice. Support for the law serves as the guiding principle for the legal profession giving Constitution Day a special significance.

Constitution Day is observed officially on September 17, the date when the Framers signed the Constitution in Philadelphia, after discussions, arguments and compromises during the hot summer of 1787. It was effectively ratified by the states on June 21, 1788.

In 2004, Congress passed legislation calling for special educational programming on September 17 to mark Constitution Day as the foundation of the rule of law we enjoy as U.S. citizens.

While the date of Constitution Day is in September, we believe that talking about the Constitution is an appropriate topic at any time, and one that lawyers can use to educate their communities about our form of government. The materials in this toolkit are for your use on September 17 and throughout the year.

Because these materials are developed for a wide audience, they explain the basic concepts and operations of our government in the simplest terms possible.

In this issue we have included a sample letter to the principal of your local high school offering your members' expertise in teaching one or more lessons on the Constitution. We have included lesson plans - on the separation of powers, student privacy rights, gun control and the Preamble to the Constitution - that members of your association can use. With most schools just getting underway, it might be worthwhile to make contact now to find out when districts will offer units on the Constitution and arrange for your members to teach a class then.

We have also developed two op-ed pieces that you can use with your local newspapers. One of these discusses the Constitution and Constitution Day while the other looks at separation of powers. In addition, there is a series of three letters to the editor, one highlighting each of the three branches of government.

Promotional materials, including a banner for your web site and a poster, are available in this toolkit. We also have an email address for you to contact if you would like to order full-color posters to distribute in your community.

These materials have been developed by the Division of Public Education and the Division of Media Relations and Communication Services.

When you use any of the items in this or other toolkits, please let us know. In a future issue, we will share your results with your colleagues around the country.

As always, your thoughts on this toolkit and the information it contains are very important to us. If you have any suggestions for future topics or comments about the format, please feel free to share them. I welcome your feedback.

Sincerely,

Roseanne Lucianek
Director, Bar Services

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© 2007 American Bar Association