Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a proclamation declaring September 17, 2025, as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” in California.
In the proclamation, Newsom highlighted the enduring significance of the United States Constitution. He stated, “For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has been the bedrock of our nation’s government, providing a framework for the evolving American experiment that continues to this day. Crafted through compromise and collaboration, the Constitution brought America’s states, with all their differing interests, together into a unified whole that derives its power from the people.”
Newsom also acknowledged that constitutional rights were not always extended to everyone in America. “In recognizing this milestone in our history, we also reflect on the fact that the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution were denied to large swaths of the population for generations. Today, we pay tribute to the many Americans throughout our history whose leadership and sacrifices have brought our nation closer to realizing its founding ideals,” he said.
He urged continued vigilance in protecting democratic progress: “We can never take this progress for granted. We stand at the crossroads of history, where efforts to undo decades of hard-won victories have reached a fever pitch. In this moment, we cannot allow ourselves to be divided. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the promise of our democracy and strive to live out the meaning of ‘e pluribus unum’ – out of many, one.”
The governor concluded by reaffirming California’s commitment alongside other states: “On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, California joins the nation in recommitting to the principles of equality, freedom, and opportunity for all in the ongoing cause to form a more perfect union.”
The proclamation was signed by Governor Newsom on September 8th and attested by Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber.
