Login | April 26, 2025
ABA president speaks on this year’s Law Day theme
WILLIAM R. BAY
American Bar Association News Service
Published: April 24, 2025
I am thrilled to announce the 2025 Law Day theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”
When I was in grade school, I first heard the phrase “E pluribus unum” and learned it meant out of many, one.
It’s on the Great Seal of the United States as well as the seals of each of our three branches of government. But I never quite appreciated what it meant and how important it is. I do now.
When our Republic was founded, there were profound differences and approaches to the problems of a young nation.
History suggests there was doubt as to whether they could create one country, one union out of many but they found a way to bridge their differences and the Constitution was agreed to.
It has stood the test of time.
Today we are larger and more diverse than the framers could have imagined. We have new challenges that threaten to divide us. It will take all of us to address those and to ensure that those words I learned long ago still have meaning.
This is the time celebrate the Constitution’s bold assertion – “We the People…form a more perfect Union.”
Indeed there is no better time than now as our nation looks ahead to the 250th birthday of the Declaration of Independence.
President Dwight Eisenhower first established Law Day in 1958 as a national observance to advance representative government and the rule of law. It is what we believe in.
This Law Day, we explore and renew our obligations to one another under the Constitution and our democratic norms, including as one nation under law.
The Constitution enshrines our collective responsibilities to one another – an obligation we strive to meet each day.
It contains a framework for government that provides limits and guardrails. It reflects a commitment to unity as we all provide for the common good.
Our Law Day theme urges us to take pride in a constitution that bridges our differences to bring us together as one nation.
The ABA encourages all Americans to join in recognizing Law Day on May 1, 2025.
Let’s renew our collective commitment to one great union. It is the promise of E pluribus unum – out of many, one.