News Blog

The controversy out of Rutherford County, Tennessee, has quickly become national news. Library Director Luanne James was fired after refusing to comply with a board directive to move more than 100 books from children’s and teen sections into the adult section of the county library system.[1] James argued that relocating the books would violate the First Amendment.[1] But this dispute was not about forbidding adults from reading books. It was about whether certain materials sh

As protests emerge across the country under slogans like “No Kings,” they reveal something deeper than political frustration. They expose a growing gap in civic understanding—specifically, a misunderstanding of what the United States actually is. America is not a monarchy. It never has been. And more importantly—it is not a pure democracy. It is a Constitutional Republic . That distinction matters more today than ever. What “No Kings” Gets Right—and Wrong At its core, the phr

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4 2026, schools across America are seizing a historic moment to reignite constitutional literacy. The 917 Society is leading the charge for 8th graders.

Today the Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship — debating the 14th Amendment. Most 8th graders have never held the Constitution those justices are interpreting. The 917 Society's Constitution Day 8th grade program is changing that.

As states across the country mark America's 250th birthday, a quiet but powerful movement is happening in classrooms everywhere: students are rediscovering the Constitution. This week, Utah became the latest state to pass a formal resolution commemorating America's 250th anniversary — directing schools to strengthen civics education and ensure students understand the founding documents that shaped this nation. It's a trend building across the country, and it couldn't come at

As America approaches its 250th birthday this July 4th, something remarkable and revealing is happening. We are arguing about our own story. Which history gets told. Which monuments stay standing. Which voices get remembered. PBS NewsHour reported this week that deep divisions over how Americans remember their past are coming into sharper focus as the nation approaches this milestone anniversary. And honestly? That division makes the work of The 917 Society more important tha

At the heart of the The 917 Society mission is a simple but powerful goal: place pocket copies of the United States Constitution directly into the hands of America’s eighth-grade students. For Dr. Ming Wang, that mission is deeply personal. As president of the organization’s Founders Club and a longtime supporter of the effort, Dr. Wang brings a perspective shaped not only by his professional accomplishments, but by his life story as an immigrant who experienced life without

Last night was one of those evenings I will never forget. I am still overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the 917 Society’s Fifth Annual Fundraiser at Ray Stevens’ CabaRay Showroom  in Nashville . To everyone who attended, purchased tables and tickets, donated, participated in the auction, spoke, sang, served, and supported our mission, thank you. Truly, thank you. What an amazing night, and what an incredible reminder that there are still so many Americans who deeply l

Before there was a Constitution… Before there was a Bill of Rights… There was prayer. In 1774, the First Continental Congress opened in prayer. In 1789, after taking the oath of office, President George Washington walked to church at St. Paul’s Chapel to dedicate the new nation to God. Faith was not hidden. It was not silenced. It was not confined to the private sphere. The Founders understood something profound: Freedom requires virtue. Virtue requires moral truth. And moral

Most Americans have never heard his name… Roger Sherman is the only Founder to sign all four of these documents: • The Continental Association (1774) • The Declaration of Independence (1776) • The Articles of Confederation (1781) • The U.S. Constitution (1787) That’s right — all four. And during the Constitutional Convention, Sherman helped craft what we now call the Great Compromise” — creating our two-chamber Congress:  The House (representation by population)  The Senate (

In a time when politics is too often driven by ambition rather than conviction, Representative Jeff Burkhart stood apart as a man of deep principle, quiet humility, and unwavering patriotism. The 917 Society mourns the passing of this true statesman, who was not only a cherished Founders Club Member and 2023 Legislator of the Year, but also a devoted friend, servant leader, and champion of the Constitution. Every year, Jeff Burkhart faithfully delivered pocket Constitutions t

When our Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft the Constitution, they brought with them the hard-earned lessons of tyranny, overreach, and the dangers of unchecked power. Fresh from the fires of the American Revolution, they understood with uncommon clarity that liberty could not survive unless government was restrained. That understanding formed the cornerstone of our Constitution — a carefully balanced framework designed to secure individual rights by limiti

At the Moms for Liberty National Summit , amidst a sea of dedicated patriots—mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and freedom-loving Americans—Joni Bryan, founder of the 917 Society, delivered a heartfelt message that resonated with both urgency and hope. It began with a confession. “I had never read the Constitution. Not really, not word for word.” That moment of raw honesty revealed a truth many Americans share but are afraid to admit. For too long, the Constitution—our national

September 17, 2025 Thank you to all who participated in our 10th Annual Constitution Day Celebration. We are so grateful to our Sponsors...

“Happy 917 Day.” That’s how Joni Bryan, founder of the 917 Society, greeted us this morning — with hope, pride, and an unflinching...

Charlie Kirk was a fighter—for faith, for freedom, for the Constitution, and for the truth that America is still the greatest nation...

On a bright, clear September morning in 2001, America was forever changed. The attacks of 9/11 left our hearts broken and our skyline...

As President Trump Launches "America Prays," the 917 Society’s Vision Marches Forward By Joni Bryan – The 917 Society When the...

Sometimes the biggest cultural moments sneak up on us. Nobody expected a restaurant chain to become the center of a national debate about...

History rarely reveals its full truths in the moment. Only with the clear eye of hindsight and the long view of time do we grasp the true...