Sep 21, 2017

We the People…Would like more information!

September 17th marked the 230 year anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The libraries decided to celebrate such a remarkable event with a fun game of Constitutional Jeopardy held at Carrier and Rose throughout the day. The whole JMU community was welcome to test their knowledge about James Madison and other Constitution related categories and enjoy a free cookie or two. The following were some of the questions and answers used during Jeopardy with elaborated explanations in hopes to inspire our community to further discuss the importance of the Constitution and the impact it still has 230 years later:

This African American abolitionist advocated against the 15th Amendment because it could further oppress black women. (Sojourner Truth)

Along with other notable suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth opposed the 15th amendment (giving African American males the right to vote) because she advocating for complete, universal suffrage believing women deserved citizenship just as equal as anyone else.

The political party formed by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson soon after the ratification of the Constitution. (Republican/Democratic-Republican/Jeffersonian Republican)

An early political party formed in opposition to the Federalist Party led by Alexander Hamilton. Emphasized state’s rights, limited central government, and strict interpretation of the Constitution. Mainly represented the interests of yeoman farmers who opposed the large, commercial industry of the northeastern states. Members of the party included Presidents Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

Roughly, this number of amendments that have been introduced to Congress. (Over 11,000)

From 1789 through January 3, 2017, approximately 11,699 measures have been proposed to amend the United States Constitution. Members of the House and Senate typically propose around 200 amendments during each two–year term of Congress. Most never get out of their respective house committees and even fewer actually gain enough support to go through the ratification process. In the 228 years of our current form of government, 33 amendments have been submitted to the states for ratification, with our current 27 amendments being the ones ratified.

In _v. Virginia, Laws prohibiting interracial marriage were ruled unconstitutional. (Loving)

When Mildred Loving, a black woman, married Richard Loving, a white man, they violated Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1927 and were sentenced to spend one year in jail or leave the state of Virginia. With the help of the ACLU, the couple took this case to court and succeeded. This 1967 civil rights case marked the end of all laws prohibiting interracial marriage as it overruled the previous precedent set in 1883 with Pace v. Alabama. June 12 marks the date of “Loving Day” which celebrates the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

This fraction describes the Congressional “supermajority” needed to overturn a Presidential veto. (2/3)

Most presidential vetoes: Franklin D. Roosevelt (635)

Fewest presidential vetoes: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, James A. Garfield, Donald Trump (0)

Most veto overrides by congress: Andrew Johnson (15)

This is where the original constitution is housed. (National Archives)

stablished in 1935 at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. the National Archives also houses the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, an original copy of the 1297 Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Would you like to know even more? Check out these sources for further reading!

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution

http://www.history.com/topics/constitution

Modified: Sep 21, 2017, 10:17 a.m.