News Blog

April 15, 2026, is Tax Day for most individual federal filers, which makes today more than a deadline. It is a civic moment. It is a reminder that taxation is not supposed to be an act of submission. In the American constitutional order, taxation is tied to representation, limited government, and the obligation of public officials to serve the people whose money they collect. The Constitution gives Congress the power to lay and collect taxes in order to pay the nation’s debts

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

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 lov

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

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...

In a powerful visual tribute to the enduring principles of the U.S. Constitution, Representative Jeff Burkhart of Clarksville, Tennessee,...

In an age of political noise and social media soundbites, it's easy to overlook one of the most important documents ever written—the...

September 17, 2025 marks the culmination of a vision born in Middle Tennessee in 2016: a volunteer-driven mission to put the U.S. Constitution in the hands of every 8th grader in America. What began as a handful of patriots distributing pocket Constitutions in middle Tennessee near Nashville—through faith, forging relationships, and private generosity—into a nationwide classroom celebration reaching all 50 states. From Middle Tennessee to Coast-to-Coast In the fall of 2016, a

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, observed each year on September 17, honor the momentous signing of the United States Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787—an act that forged “a more perfect Union” and laid the foundation for American liberty and self-government. The roots of this observance reach back to May 31, 1938, when Polish refugee Bronislava du Brissac organized “I Am an American Day” in New York, a celebration codified by federal joint resolution in

The foundation of American liberty is not found in government programs, trendy slogans, or fleeting political trends. It is rooted in one...

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding in 2026, this coming year holds profound significance for every American...

249 Years of Liberty: Honoring the Courage that Gave Us a Republic This July 4th, we mark the 249th anniversary of the signing of the...

In recent days, America has seen events unfold that would leave our Founders speechless—and likely horrified. Highway blockades in Los...

Each year, Memorial Day calls us to remember—with reverence and gratitude—the brave men and women who laid down their lives in defense of...

The recent revelation of former President Joe Biden's advanced prostate cancer diagnosis is tragic and sobering news for all Americans,...

On April 30, 1789, George Washington stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City and took the very first presidential oath of...