Copy the Constitution

We invite you, the people (see what we did there?), to copy the Constitution of the United States by hand (yes, by hand!) In light of the sometimes convoluted language in today's political discourse, we propose going back to basics. We invite the community to help reclaim the language on which democracy was built. Let's copy the Constitution. We hope that shifting the focus to these particularly important words will reacquaint all of us with what the Constitution promises.

Sounds like a big project? Turns out, our most important rights document, the Constitution of the United States, is a mere 7600 words, including the 27 amendments. Participants, in shared community, will be assigned a part of the Constitution, copy it word for word in their own hand, post it in the room with all our various handwritten scrawls (all scrawls are welcome!), and, when it is reassembled, read it aloud. We hope this might become a reclamation of the principles of our country, may place us in closer kinship with those early writers and thinkers, and refresh our understanding of the core document of democracy. Why not get those words into our very fingertips? This event is brought to you in partnership with Michigan Writers and is intended for people age 14 and older. Light refreshments will be served.

Registration is required and begins June 1 at 9 am online, by phone, or in person. Sign-ups close one hour before the program starts or when registration is full, whichever comes first. Attendees may enter the building through the Grand River or Clinton Street doors, but all must exit the building through the Clinton Street doors at the conclusion of the program.

Seating begins 15 minutes before the event starts.

This event celebrates America's 250th anniversary at the Howell Carnegie Library. A gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York partially funds it. Part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, these funds honor the 250th anniversary of the United States and libraries' role as cradles of democracy.

Please stay home if you are sick.
Library staff may photograph or videotape portions of this event and its attendees for use in promotional materials and on social media.