It’s eloquently written, and it set up the first large-scale democracy – it’s the U.S. Constitution.

And now, it’s wearing a birthday hat.

The Athens chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be honoring the 222nd anniversary of the U.S. Constitution with a ceremony at the Chapel today at 4 p.m.

During the ceremony, the Sons of the American Revolution will be “furnishing young men in colonial uniforms,” and the DAR will speak about its part in preserving the Constitution, said Sherry Caven, DAR Committee Chairperson.

The organization plans to end with a traditional bell ringing outside the Chapel.

DAR was incorporated in a congressional charter in 1896 and has worked as a service organization dedicated to U.S. heritage. Now the group offers scholarships to high school and college students and participates in civic work.

Members of DAR are required to be lineally connected to the men or women who fought or contributed to the American Revolution.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law No. 915 setting aside Sept. 17 through 23 for Constitution Week – a time for Americans to reflect on the creation and significance of the Constitution.

Caven said DAR exists to help Americans remember things such as the Constitution.

“[The Constitution] was written very carefully and very thoughtfully, and I think it deserves some recognition,” Caven said. “It’s not very well known, and we’re trying to get it out there.”

But why is the 222-year-old document important?

“It’s so important,” said Keith Dougherty, a professor of government and politics at the University, “because it’s one of the longest-lasting constitutions in the world, in terms of democracy.”

The Constitution was drafted on Sept. 17, 1787.

Although the U.S. was not the first democracy, it was the first time a group of people tried to bring together a nation of states on such a large scale.

Even though there are restrictions on direct democracy, it was one of the most progressive democratic projects of its time, Dougherty said.

And though the Constitution can be defined in terms of its longevity, it can stand for more than that.

“The Constitution is at the base of what makes me a citizen,” said Rachel Stoker, a freshman from Flowery Branch. “What the Bible is to Christianity, the constitution is to the U.S.”

As to why the Constitution has lasted so many years, Dougherty said,

“It’s so flexible and amorphous that people interpret it in different ways, such that it fits different times,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty said the differences between state and U.S. constitutions give the two groups the ability to negotiate flexibility.

“Look at Florida – they wrote into their constitution a law that says that pregnant fowls cannot be caged,” Dougherty said.

He exemplified the numerous policies built into the state constitutions that aren’t built into the original U.S. Constitution.

“I believe that it’s fallible,” said Stoker, “and apparently so did the writers.”

Stoker said she believed that’s the reason why the founders allowed for amendments to the Constitution.

“Time will outdate some things, while introducing new things that will have to be addressed,” Stoker said. “Culture changes and the Constitution is a cultural document.”