On Jan. 9, 1788, Connecticut became the fifth American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Connecticut earned the nickname “The Constitution State” for its role in adopting the 1639 “Fundamental Orders of Connecticut” — among the first governing documents to recognize that the people are the foundation of public authority and to establish a system in which citizens elect their own officials. The document is widely regarded as an early influence for the U.S. Constitution.
Continue reading
On Feb. 6, 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Massachusetts holds a special place in the telling of America’s origin story: It was where English Protestants, later known as the Pilgrims, arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620 and founded Plymouth Colony, one of the earliest permanent English settlements in New England. The Pilgrims are widely credited with celebrating the 1621 harvest feast often referred to as the first Thanksgiving.
Continue reading
On Jan. 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Initially, Georgia was slow to join the revolutionary cause, with the region divided between Loyalists and Patriots. But as news of the Declaration of Independence spread and tensions heightened, driven in part by the British capture of Savannah in 1778, Georgians began rallying behind the fight for independence.
Continue reading
A recent study by the American Heart Association revealed that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults believe that CPR should be performed only by people with special training. More than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year, with 90% of those fatal. Moments of crisis rarely happen in the presence of medical professionals — they happen in kitchens, at youth sports games, in grocery aisles, and at homes with friends and family.
Continue reading
On Dec. 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Known as “The Crossroads of the American Revolution” for its more than 100 battles and nearly 300 troop clashes with Great Britain, New Jersey was the site of many of the war’s most pivotal moments, including George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night and subsequent victories at Trenton and Princeton that turned the tide of the war.
Continue reading
In 2019, while serving as CSG National Chair, New Hampshire State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, a former coach and teacher, recognized a need for CSG to foster engagement with younger state leaders. The result of D’Allesandro’s pursuit was the establishment of the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, with the inaugural class awarded in 2020.
Continue reading
On Dec. 12, 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania became the second American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Nestled in the middle of the 13 colonies, Pennsylvania earned itself the nickname “The Keystone State” for its pivotal role in holding the early Union together — both economically and politically — during the Revolutionary era.
Continue reading
Delaware earned itself the nickname “The First State” when, on Dec. 7, 1787, it became the first of the American colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Delaware’s place at the vanguard of this democratic experiment might not have happened at all were it not for a famous midnight horse ride made on July 1, 1776, by Caesar Rodney.
Continue reading
Four new dynamic state leaders were elected by CSG to serve as 2026 national officers, positioning a new leadership team to lead the organization into a new year of championing excellence in state government.
Continue reading
As we mark America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, CSG is proud to celebrate not only our nation’s founding ideals but the people who bring those ideals to life every day in state capitols and communities across the country. We honor the courage it takes to govern, the creativity to solve problems in new ways and the civility to engage across differences.
Continue reading