April 1 to May 29, 2017
2016 marked the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
The National Archives and Records Administration or NARA recognized the importance of the anniversary with the creation of the "Amending America" project for learning more about the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments to the Constitution.
The "Amending America" exhibit, National Conversations on #RightsandJustice, and free eBooks are among the available resources that explore how, why, and when the Constitution has been amended "in order to form a more perfect union" for all.
Amending America eBooks include:
- Amending America exhibition catalog
- Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test Workbook for students
- Congress Creates the Bill of Rights focusing on the leadership of James Madison in creating the Bill of Rights
Click HERE to learn more about NARA's "Amending America" project and amendments to the United States Constitution.
Ever wondered how the process to amend the Constitution works? Watch this short "Amending America: How Do We Amend?" video:
Would you like to see the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other historical documents in person? Visit the NARA building in Washington, DC to view the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda. LEARN MORE HERE
The 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, was certified on July 5, 1971. President Richard M. Nixon and three of the "Young Americans in Concert" (Julianne Jones, Joseph W. Loyd, Jr., and Paul S. Larimer) witnessed the certification of the amendment by Robert Kunzig, Administration of General Services. President Nixon and the three young people also signed as witnesses.