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A collection of TCP's work celebrating our founding charter and the rights and liberties it enshrines, and a chance to take stock of the work that remains to ensure its protections extend to everyone in the country. More

Constitutional Principles

Join Our Celebration of the Constitution

By David Janovsky & Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette & Jake Laperruque & Sarah Turberville | Filed under analysis | September 17, 2018

September 17 is Constitution Day—the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our founding charter and the rights and liberties it enshrines, and a chance to take stock of the work that remains to ensure its protections extend to everyone in the country.

Above all, Constitution Day is an occasion for civic education. In fact, since 2004 Congress has mandated that all federal agencies and federally funded schools provide educational opportunities about the Constitution on the day.

Turn up the volume on our Constitution Day playlist! https://spoti.fi/2D5DXow

This year, The Constitution Project at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is taking a whole week to celebrate the Constitution. We’ll be posting a series of articles imagining life without key constitutional rights, and you can visit POGO’s Facebook page for an interactive adventure to see what could happen in a world without the Constitution. We’ll also be featuring interviews with experts who have dedicated their careers to defending the Constitution. As you explore our content, be sure to listen to our staff-curated Spotify playlist inspired by the 27 amendments—check it out below. Finally, on Friday, Constitution Project staff will hold a Twitter chat looking back at the week and previewing some of the work to come.

Listen: Constitution-Themed Playlist

In any event, we hope you enjoy this playlist on Constitution Day and any time you need a reminder of the individual rights and limits on government power found in our nation’s founding document (along with a handful of constitutional modifications to prevent repetition of past missteps…we’re looking at you, 12th Amendment!). 

We've included a table of the songs and corresponding amendments below.

Song Artist Amendment to the Constitution
Express Yourself NWA 1st: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and to petition the government
Happiness is a Warm Gun The Beatles 2nd: Right to keep and bear arms
No Quarter Led Zeppelin 3rd: Prohibits quartering of troops without consent of homeowner
Searchin' The Coasters 4th: Prohibits unreasonable search or seizure; warrants must be issued on probable cause
The Sound of Silence Simon and Garfunkel 5th: Guarantees rights to due process, against self-incrimination, against double jeopardy, and to just compensation
I Stand Accused Al Green 6th: Right to impartial jury, speedy trial, presentment of charges, confrontation of witnesses, subpoena, and counsel.
Ambulance Chaser Clap Your Hands Say Yeah 7th: Right to jury trial in civil cases over $20
It's Not Unusual Tom Jones 8th: Prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment
Things Left Unsaid Pink Floyd 9th: People have rights in addition to those explicitly listed in the Constitution
People Have the Power Patti Smith 10th: Rights not delegated in the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.
U Can't Touch This MC Hammer 11th: Sovereign immunity—states are immune to suits for money damages or equitable relief without their consent
The Election of 1800 Hamilton (Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda) 12th: Amends the electoral college to prevent a tie for President (*like in the election of 1800 )
Oh Freedom! The Golden Gospel Singers 13th: Prohibition of slavery (except in cases of imprisonment)
A Change is Gonna Come Sam Cooke 14th: Defines citizenship, right to due process and equal protection in the states
Voice Your Choice The Radiants 15th: Right to vote can't be abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
Taxman The Beatles 16th: Federal government power to collect income tax
Popular Wicked (Kristin Chenoweth) 17th: Provides for popular election of U.S. Senators
Drinkin' Problem Midland 18th: Prohibition of alcohol
Sisters are Doing It For Themselves Aretha Franklin, Eurythmics 19th: Right to vote can't be abridged on account of sex
Closing Time Semisonic 20th: Specifies end date of presidential term of office on Jan 20th; and end date for Senators' term on Jan. 3
Have a Drink on Me AC/DC 21st: Repeal of Prohibition
Love Me Two Times The Doors 22nd: Term limits for the president
Chocolate City Parliament 23rd: DC as seat of government and DC residents can vote in presidential election (but otherwise have no representation in Congress)
Money, Money, Money ABBA 24th: Bans poll tax
Crazy Patsy Cline 25th: Presidential succession in case of removal, death, resignation, or incapacitation (or inability)
I'm Eighteen Alice Cooper 26th: Right to vote at age 18
Rich Girl Hall & Oates 27th: A raise that Congress gives itself can't take effect until the after the next election

Check back throughout the week to join our celebration of the Constitution!

The Constitution Project

The Constitution Project seeks to safeguard our constitutional rights when the government exercises power in the name of national security and domestic policing, including ensuring our institutions serve as a check on that power.

Author

  • Author

    David Janovsky

    David Janovsky is an analyst for The Constitution Project at POGO.

  • Author

    Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette

    Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette is a Government Affairs Manager at POGO.

  • Author

    Jake Laperruque

    Jake Laperruque is Senior Policy Counsel with The Constitution Project at POGO.

  • Author

    Sarah Turberville

    Sarah Turberville is the Director of the Constitution Project at POGO.

Related Tags

    Constitutional Principles Civil Liberties

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