Bill of Rights Day2026 · Date · History
Public Law 77-243, approved August 21, 1941, requested a presidential proclamation designating December 15, 1941 as Bill of Rights Day for the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. National Archives material says December 15 has been celebrated as Bill of Rights Day since 1941 and continues to describe it as an annual observance; this is a commemorative observance, not a recurring federal day off created by the 1941 joint resolution.
About Bill of Rights Day
Bill of Rights Day is observed in the United States on December 15, the anniversary of the 1791 ratification that made the first ten amendments part of the Constitution.
Federal records trace the formal Bill of Rights Day designation to 1941, and National Archives material describes December 15 as an annual observance.
Why Bill of Rights Day matters
The day provides a civic-history framework for reading the text and historical record of the Bill of Rights.
It is a commemorative observance, not a recurring federal day off established by the 1941 joint resolution.
History of Bill of Rights Day
Public Law 77-243, approved August 21, 1941, authorized and requested the President to designate December 15, 1941 as Bill of Rights Day for the 150th anniversary.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Proclamation 2524 for that 1941 observance.
National Archives material states that December 15 has been celebrated as Bill of Rights Day since 1941 and continues to describe the date as observed annually.
The date itself reflects December 15, 1791, when ratification by the required number of states made the first ten amendments part of the Constitution.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United States Congress (H.J.Res. 120)
Congress passed the joint resolution requesting a presidential Bill of Rights Day designation for December 15, 1941.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, following authorization/request by the 77th Congress
H.J.Res. 120 / Public Law 77-243, followed by Presidential Proclamation 2524
First documented observance
The 1941 joint resolution and proclamation designated December 15, 1941 as Bill of Rights Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Bill of Rights Day
Read the Bill of Rights itself and compare it with primary documents from the ratification and amendment process.
Use National Archives educational material to distinguish the original text, later legal interpretation and modern political debate.
Host a nonpartisan civics discussion focused on what the amendments say and how constitutional interpretation develops through institutions and cases.
Visit an archive, museum or public program where the founding documents can be studied in historical context.
When discussing contested constitutional questions, distinguish documented history and legal text from personal political advocacy.
Bill of Rights Day Facts
Bill of Rights Day is observed on December 15.
Congress approved the 1941 joint resolution on August 21, 1941.
The 1941 resolution requested a presidential proclamation specifically for December 15, 1941.
National Archives material describes the observance as annual and says December 15 has been celebrated as Bill of Rights Day since 1941.
Bill of Rights Day is commemorative and is not represented here as a recurring federal day off.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
- Legal Financial Information Boundary.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
GovInfo — Public Law 77-243 / H.J.Res. 120 (1941) (opens in a new tab)
Federal Statute
National Archives — Bill of Rights Day naturalization observance (opens in a new tab)
Federal Archives Annual Observance
National Archives — Celebrating the Bill of Rights (opens in a new tab)
Federal Archives Current Observance
American Presidency Project — Proclamation 2524 (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bill of Rights Day?
15 December The documented recurrence rule is: 15 December.
Does Bill of Rights Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Bill of Rights Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States commemorative observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Bill of Rights Day?
The reviewed sources identify President Franklin D. Roosevelt, following authorization/request by the 77th Congress as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as United States Congress (H.J.Res. 120).
Is Bill of Rights Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United States commemorative observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-07.
When is Bill of Rights Day?
It is observed on December 15.
Why December 15?
December 15 marks the 1791 ratification milestone by which the first ten amendments became part of the U.S. Constitution.
When was Bill of Rights Day established?
Congress approved a joint resolution in 1941 requesting a presidential designation of December 15, 1941, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the corresponding proclamation.
Did the 1941 law create a permanent annual federal holiday?
No. The joint resolution designated the 1941 anniversary; later recurring practice is documented separately by the National Archives as an annual observance.
Is Bill of Rights Day a federal day off?
This guide treats it as a civic commemoration, not as a recurring federal day off.
Other observances on December 15
These observances are also listed on December 15, 2026.
Cat Herders' Day
Thomas and Ruth Roy’s first-party Wellcat Holidays calendar lists Cat Herders' Day on 15 December and identifies the Wellcat holiday collection as their creation. The creator text frames th…
National Wear Your Pearls Day
National Day Calendar states that DeAnna Heard founded the observance, that its registrar approved it in 2015, and that it is observed on 15 December.
World Turkic Language Family Day
UNESCO 43 C/57