By Katayun I. Jaffari
Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago this month, the U.S. Constitution officially became the foundational legal document of the United States of America, having been signed here in Philadelphia just blocks from the home of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
In recognition of this auspicious occasion, September 17 is traditionally recognized as Constitution Day; it is also a day when we celebrate those who have become U.S. citizens. I, along with leaders of our Association, were at the Constitution Center on Constitution Day morning witnessing the beauty of our Naturalization Ceremonies.
As the daughter of two naturalized U.S. citizens, Constitution Day has always been a special one for me. Addressing a group of new U.S. citizens before they take the same oath that my parents took many years ago is not just an honor, but a privilege that I do not take lightly.
When I hear the first three words of the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, “We the People,” I think about how these words describe all of us – those who were born here, those who have chosen this country as their home, and all who commit to the ideals of the U.S. Constitution and strive to the make this country the best it can be for the people, by the people. The founders of our country created the U.S. Constitution as the bedrock of the rule of law in the United States. It is not a perfect document, but one that has carried us through and has evolved along with our country. On Constitution Day, we remember not just the founders who drafted it, but everyone who has been involved in the struggle to ensure a more perfect union, and who has moved us closer to the promise of equal access to justice for all. At times, when we feel that our Republic is slipping away, it is a reminder that as lawyers, judges, legal professionals and Philadelphians, we must safeguard the ideals and fundamental values of the U.S. Constitution, including the separation of powers in the federal government to ensure that no one person or ideology controls our democracy.
At a time when our democracy is under attack, seemingly almost daily, it becomes increasingly critical to understand our history, and the individual stories of how we came to enjoy the rights that we have in this country. We, the members of the Philadelphia Bar Association, are in the unique position of seeing the U.S. Constitution in action nearly every day in our work. As our country approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, let’s continue to speak out about what makes our system of government special and why our founders felt it was so important to put protections in place against an abuse of power.
Awe, the concept of being amazed outside of yourself, is what I think of when I think of the U.S. Constitution and what has been created and what we have to preserve. As Dacher Keltner writes in his book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, “[b]y finding awe, from our first breath to our last, awe moves us to deepen our relations with the wonders of life and to marvel mysteries that are part of our fleeting time here, guided by this most human of emotions.” I am reminded of certain wonders of life – the strength, courage and kindness of others, collective movement in actions like sports – and we know sports in Philadelphia – nature, music, and art.
In honor of Constitution Day, take a moment to be in awe of what’s around you and to consider how you can share your knowledge of our U.S. Constitution with others and express the “awe” of it all. Speak to a classroom of schoolchildren. Get involved in a civic or community group. Write an article or letter to the editor. These actions have a multiplying effect, inspiring others to share their own experiences and knowledge. I could not be prouder of the ways that the Philadelphia legal community has stood strong to stand up and speak out – for our clients, for our profession, for the independence of the judiciary and our profession, and for the rule of law and equal access to justice.
While there may be times that it seems like we may be poised to lose some of our hard-fought and hard-won rights as a society, I have hope. My hope comes from every one of you who have used your positions to preserve and keep safe the rights that have been bestowed upon us by our founders in creating the U.S. Constitution and the United States of America. Thank you for your continued commitment to the rule of law and our United States Constitution.
Katayun I. Jaffari is the 2025 Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. You can email her at chancellor@philabar.org.
