Constitution Day
September 17, 2026
Constitution Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Established by Congress in 2004, Constitution Day provides an opportunity for educational institutions to recognize the Constitution and encourage learning about its history and significance.
To honor this important day, Mississippi State University offers two open events:
Event One - Constitution Day Display
A Constitution Day display table located in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in Garner Hall, featuring free handouts, educational information, and interactive materials about the U.S. Constitution.
Event Two - Constitution Day Presentation
The 2026 Constitution Day presentation featured Dr. Brian Shoup, Professor and Department Head of Political Science and Public Administration. Dr. Shoup teaches courses in comparative politics and public policy, with research interests in identity politics, conflict, and state and nation-building.
The presentation was titled “The Purity Problem: Partisan Sorting and the Dangerous Quest for Political Authenticity".
Dr. Shoup is the author of Conflict and Cooperation in Multi-Ethnic States: Institutional Incentives, Myths, and Counterbalancing. His research has been published in Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, Democratization, Journal of Democracy, The Journal of Labor Research, Perspectives on Politics, and PS: Political Science.