Constitution Week spotlight

Since 1952, the Constitution has been on display in the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. It was brought to the Archives on a mattress. The cases holding the Constitution, which contain gas and vapor to keep humidity at 40% for preservation, are bulletproof. It is not insured. It is lowered at night to a reinforced vault that would withstand a nuclear explosion. Pages one and four are usually on display. On Sept. 17, Constitution Day, all four pages are on view. During the burning of Washington in 1812, the Constitution was taken to Leesburg, Va., for safekeeping. It was kept at Fort Knox during both world wars for the same reason. It is the oldest and shortest written Constitution in the world.

As we conclude our celebration of Constitution Week, let us resolve to be better informed and responsible citizens.

Know Your Constitution. See if you can answer these three questions.

1) By law, who must submit a proposed budget to Congress each year?

a. Secretary of the Treasury

b. Congress

c. President

2) What elected official presides over the Senate?

a. Speaker of the House

b. Vice President

c. Postmaster General

3) The U.S. Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over which of the following:

a. all cases between citizens of different states

b. all cases involving ambassadors

c. all cases involving foreign citizens

This Constitution Week Spotlight was provided by Lieutenant George Farragut Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. For more information about DAR, please visit the chapter’s website at lgfdar.com.

Answers: 1) c. President; 2) b. Vice President; 3) b. all cases involving ambassadors