Constitution Day 2025: Finding Your Role in Preserving Democracy

Two hundred thirty-eight years ago, the Constitution gave us a framework for our nation, providing a critical system of checks and balances among the branches of government and assuring basic individual liberties that are essential to our free and democratic society. Perhaps most importantly on Constitution Day, when the tendency is to wax poetic regarding the historic significance of our Constitution, we must be reminded of this living framework and its provision of both rights and responsibilities. We all have a role in ensuring the continued strength of our democracy. 

This Constitution Day comes just before a year of milestones that underscore the responsibilities each generation carries. In 2026, IAALS will mark 20 years of advancing justice, Colorado will celebrate 150 years of statehood, and our nation will reach its 250th anniversary. But these are more than just milestones. They are a call to renew our commitment to the rule of law and to the constitutional principles that safeguard our way of life. 

Preserving that democracy requires courage in the face of real pressures. We face challenges to our system of government, the checks and balances that are integral to our system, the rights that are guaranteed by our Constitution, and the promise of justice for all. Access to justice is too often denied. Courts are underfunded and overburdened. And civic norms that hold our system together and form the bedrock for system improvement—trust in institutions, respect for rights, and civil discourse—are wearing thin. While our Constitution remains, its promises are fraying. 

The Constitution has endured because each generation has recognized its promise, committed anew to its principles, and maintained this vital framework of checks and balances. While this work happens at the national level, efforts to protect our democracy are just as critical at the local level. Individuals within their own communities make a difference every day in upholding these rights and acting on their responsibilities, thereby strengthening our democracy. Representation, checks and balances, and civic participation play out in our city councils, our school boards, and at the county level. Community members around the country today are participating on juries, engaging in town halls, registering to vote, and contributing to critical policy development in their areas.

These important contributions don’t just rest broadly with members of the public. All of those involved in our justice system have a vital role to play. IAALS’ research on public trust and confidence reflects the critical trust that people have in the judges in their local communities. It is critical for judges and attorneys to engage with their communities, contribute to public education, and support justice system improvement efforts. While many courts have implemented community outreach programs, more can be done to create opportunities for judges to have direct and positive interactions with members of the public.

These civic interactions are essential to a thriving rule of law. They maintain our durable system of laws, institutions, and community commitment, which ultimately leads to accountability, open government, and access to justice. 

This work also allows each of us to see ourselves as constitutional actors engaged in our democracy. Through IAALS’ work with partners around the country to improve our justice system and realize the promise of justice for all, we see this local action make all the difference. It is this local action that adds up to national impact. On this Constitution Day, and as we look forward to a series of celebrations of our history over the next year, let us not simply honor the past but keep our eyes firmly fixed on the future and remember the role that we each play on a daily basis in our communities. Let us carry the work forward with the urgency and commitment this day—and this moment—demands.