I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3591 
To establish a grant program to enhance existing secondary education pro-
grams for the purpose of teaching high school students about the Con-
stitution of the United States and the constitutions of the individual 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 
Mr. CUMMINGS (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. 
RANGEL, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Ms. WATERS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. CARSON 
of Indiana, and Mr. WATT) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program to enhance existing secondary 
education programs for the purpose of teaching high 
school students about the Constitution of the United 
States and the constitutions of the individual States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Constitution and Citi-
zenship Day Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. CONSTITUTION DAY AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY 
SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS. 
Part C of title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new subpart: 
‘‘Subpart 6—Teaching of the Constitution 
‘‘SEC. 2371. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CON-
STITUTION DAY GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary 
shall establish and implement a grant program, to be 
known as the ‘Constitution Day Grant Program’, under 
which the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive 
basis to local educational agencies and charter schools for 
the purposes of enhancing educational programs to teach 
students about the United States Constitution and the 
constitution of the State in which the grant recipient is 
located. 
‘‘(b) 
GRANTEE
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.— 
Grants under this section may only be awarded to a local 
educational agency or charter school with established sec-
ondary educational programs to teach students about the 
United States Constitution and the constitution of the 
State in which the grant recipient is located. 
‘‘(c) OPERATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.—An 
educational program funded by a grant under this section 
shall— 
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‘‘(1) occur on Constitution Day, September 17, 
of each calender year (or on the Monday imme-
diately following Constitution Day, if Constitution 
Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday); 
‘‘(2) include assemblies, discussions, presen-
tations, or events commemorating the Constitution 
of the United States and the constitution of the 
State in which the grant recipient is located; 
‘‘(3) include efforts to reinforce existing Con-
stitutional curricula conducted by the grant recipi-
ent; and 
‘‘(4) make available to eligible students partici-
pating in such program the ability to register to 
vote. 
‘‘(d) VOTER REGISTRATION LAWS.—A grant recipi-
ent under this section shall abide by all applicable State 
and Federal voter registration laws. 
‘‘SEC. 2372. GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY CREATED PROCESS.—The Sec-
retary shall develop an application process for the grant 
program under this subpart, consistent with the require-
ments of this section. 
‘‘(b) GRANT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An ap-
plication for a grant under this subpart shall— 
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‘‘(1) describe the educational activities to be 
funded by the grant; and 
‘‘(2) provide assurances that the requirements 
of section 2371(c) will be met, and any additional 
assurances that the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to ensure compliance with the requirements 
of this subpart. 
‘‘SEC. 2373. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 
2014 to carry out this subpart.’’. 
Æ 
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