On Friday, the House read the Constitution aloud for the third time in U.S. history. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) started things off by reading the preamble. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who was an integral part of the civil rights movement, read the 13th Amendment. Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah), the first black Republican woman to serve in Congress, read the 14th Amendment. Here's a brief taste of the reading, which took more than an hour to finish.
No one was more excited about the Constitution reading than the representatives taking part, who descended upon Twitter en masse to inflict maximum FOMO on all those not lucky enough to read the document that ensures that they get paid for reading documents. Live-tweeting Constitution readings is the House's version of live-tweeting 'Scandal'.
Today, Members of the people’s House joined together to read the United States #Constitution on the @HouseFloor. http://t.co/S10VZ7LV5Y
— John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) January 9, 2015
I just took part in reading the #Constitution from the @HouseFloor. Watch as reading continues here: http://t.co/ujIOYemOs1
— Rep. Dan Newhouse (@RepNewhouse) January 9, 2015
I was honored to participate in the reading of the Constitution on the House floor this morning. VIDEO: https://t.co/RKT96QrQGV
— Dr. Phil Roe (@DrPhilRoe) January 9, 2015
Each new Congress, it’s an honor to read a portion of the U.S. Constitution on the House floor. https://t.co/LeUSiCVEGw
— Rep. Scott Tipton (@RepTipton) January 9, 2015
For 227 years the Constitution has been this country’s bedrock. Proud to read a portion of it on the floor today. http://t.co/QPpNH3PvIc
— Rep Tim Walberg (@RepWalberg) January 9, 2015
Just got back from the House floor after joining my colleagues for a ceremonial reading of the U.S. #Constitution.
— Lois Capps (@RepLoisCapps) January 9, 2015
This morning I was honored to participate again in the reading of the U.S. #Constitution on the House floor. pic.twitter.com/TZpQkwSA3Z
— Former Rep. Daniel Lipinski (@RepLipinski) January 9, 2015
During my first opportunity to read on the @Housefloor, I had the honor of reading the #Constitution pic.twitter.com/o6fUtIQUFB
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) January 9, 2015
This morning, I joined my colleagues in the House in reading the #Constitution in its entirety on the House floor: https://t.co/fYO3yVWlzJ
— U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (@boblatta) January 9, 2015
This morning I joined my colleagues in reading the #Constitution from the House floor. WATCH: http://t.co/oig79VTLKh
— Archive: Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) January 9, 2015
This morning on the House Floor, I was honored to read a section of our U.S. Constitution, America's founding document we've sworn to uphold
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) January 9, 2015
The entire U.S. Constitution will be read on the House floor beginning this morning at 9 am -- watch live here: http://t.co/TVqHQfjHM1
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) January 9, 2015
I'm honored to participate as I join my colleagues as we once again pledge ourselves to defending & preserving the #Constitution
— Jackie Walorski (@RepWalorski) January 9, 2015
Proud that the Constitution will be read aloud on the House floor this morning. Watch live now at http://t.co/P7DCgTEYyb
— Archive: Rep. Greg Walden (@repgregwalden) January 9, 2015
No better way to kick off the new Congress than by reading the U.S. Constitution. I read the 6th Amendment: https://t.co/HudiijcfbO
— Tom Emmer (@RepTomEmmer) January 9, 2015
I'm on the House Floor reading from one of our most sacred documents, the United States #Constitution. Live → http://t.co/CXNKXHjVL2
— CathyMcMorrisRodgers (@cathymcmorris) January 9, 2015
WATCH: This morning I participated in a reading of the #Constitution on the floor of the US House of Reps
— Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) January 9, 2015
https://t.co/7CZGcwl1IJ
Just finished reading part of the #constitution on the floor. Members of differing politics come together for this important moment.
— Rep. David Scott (@repdavidscott) January 9, 2015
Shot a quick preview before presiding over the House reading of the U.S. Constitution today. Humbled and honored: http://t.co/jbCKEz6AgX
— Rep. Randy Hultgren (@RepHultgren) January 9, 2015
Tune in to @cspan now! Congress reads Constitution for the first and last time in the 114th Congress #sassywithmassie pic.twitter.com/56MDzmiM0R
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 9, 2015
On House Floor and proud to read the US Constitution. Great way to begin a new Congress!
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 9, 2015
I am heading to the floor of the House for the ceremonial reading of the Constitution. I will be reading the 13th Amendment.
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) January 9, 2015
HAPPENING NOW: Reading of the #Constitution on the @HouseFloor. Watch it live here —> http://t.co/fBqlo3kwni
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 9, 2015
The #Constitution makes clear that the people come first, and that government exists for the benefit of the people. http://t.co/nP47Z2xSWs
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 9, 2015
We are reading the Constitution on the House floor. Watch live on @CSPAN or online at: http://t.co/JNhvOcGVwW
— Rep. Adrian Smith (@RepAdrianSmith) January 9, 2015
This morning, I will participate in reading the Constitution on the House floor. Watch: http://t.co/u0saBpJEUN pic.twitter.com/B7Ogidgcfr
— Rep. John Moolenaar (@RepMoolenaar) January 9, 2015
Headed to the House floor to participate in the reading of the #Constitution. Tune in here: http://t.co/YKsC0pdamN
— Archive: Rep. Jeb Hensarling (@RepHensarling) January 9, 2015
Reading the #Constitution on the House Floor today. Tune in to @cspan at 9AM to watch live! #readtheconstitution pic.twitter.com/BbSm3o6jGK
— Bob Goodlatte (@RepGoodlatte) January 9, 2015
Like all bragging on social media, these uplifting treatises on the Constitution did not give followers a peek at all the grief that document will cause this merry band of readers in the upcoming weeks when they have to figure out how to fund the Department of Homeland Security in order to provide for the common defense and insure domestic tranquility while fighting over domestic issues -- all in the name of making a union more perfect.
For this brief moment however, all was calm. And you can't blame them for being excited about that.