Teachers

Welcome to the Fourth Annual We the People National Invitational Competition!

The staff of the Center for Civic Education appreciates your hard work and dedication to teaching about the Constitution
and Bill of Rights. Because of your participation in the We the People program, your students will acquire the
civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively participate in our constitutional democratic republic.

Every American should have the opportunity to explore and experience Washington D.C., our nation's capital.
During your visit you will be provided with all of the necessary tools and resources to expose your students to
learning beyond classroom walls that will enrich their lives, open their minds, and challenge them.
Take advantage of this once in a lifetime experience. 

Robert S. Leming, Director
We the People Programs
Center for Civic Education

Middle school teachers, please click here to request additional information.
High school teachers, please click here to request addtioinal information.

---

“This year, taking advantage of the National Invitational and having my students come down to Washington, D.C., experience the government that they’ve been studying and then being able to defend their positions before a variety of really esteemed judges, I thought was a great culminating activity for everything we’ve done”  - We the People Teacher, Rhode Island, 2014

"This event is one that I have been waiting for 10 years, ever since I started the classroom hearings. It was an awesome experience, both for my students, as well as myself. To give my students an opportunity to be part of a national competition, and experience Washington, D.C. all in the same trip, is one none of us will ever forget" - We the People Teacher, Oregon, 2013 Inaugural National Invitational

This is the fourth year of the National Invitational. The We the People National Finals has been successfully delivered for 28 years at the high school level, with more than 30,000 students and 1,000 teachers participating. We are pleased with our continued partnership with WorldStrides, the nation's leading educational travel organization, in the delivery of this event. 
 

When will the competition scores be available?
Scores will be emailed to teachers by the end of April. 

Hearing Rooms

Saturday and Sunday

The hearings will take place in the classroom spaces central to the George Mason University campus. Because the hearing
rooms are limited in size the number of open seats depends on the class size and number of parents and visitors. Every
effort will be made to ensure that parents and visitors who have come to see a particular student testify will be seated in
the room during that student’s unit hearing. Parents and visitors may stand in the back of the room unless otherwise directed
due to fire codes and at the discretion of the teacher, room supervisor, or Center staff. To ensure that the hearings are not interrupted, parents and visitors will be admitted to the hearing room at appropriate break times (between units) and after the judges have left the room.

Everyone is welcome to observe the hearings. However to ensure fairness, anyone affiliated with a competing class (teachers, coaches, students, chaperons, parents, friends, relatives, etc.) may not enter the hearing room of any other competing class. Once a class hearing is completed, floor supervisors and Center staff will help direct classes and visitors exit in a timely fashion.

Monday

The final round of competition will take place on Monday, May 2 at the Sheraton Reston Hotel. Because there are so many students participating this year, only the top three classes and their guests will be allowed to observe the hearings.

The hearings will be extended to 12 minutes
(four minute opening statement and eight minutes of follow up questions).

Student Orientation Room

On Saturday and Sunday there will be a twenty-five minute briefing for all classes before the hearings begin at George Mason University. The location of the student orientation is Enterprise Hall, Room 80. Robert Leming, Director of the We the People Programs and Mark Molli, Director of Governmental Relations will officially welcome students, teachers, parents, and visitors
to the inaugural We the People National Invitational and address the students about important matters concerning the
competition. Upon arrival floor supervisors and Center staff will direct students to the Orientation room. If space is available, parents and visitors are welcome. At the end of the briefing, floor supervisors and Center staff will direct classes to their hearing rooms. Once all classes have been dismissed, parents and visitors will be directed to the hearing rooms.

Awards Ceremony

The ceremony is the culminating event of the Fourth Annual We the People National Invitational.
This is the time to celebrate the accomplishments of all of the students and teachers participating
in the National Invitational. The Awards Ceremony will be in the Diamond Ballroom at the
Sheraton Reston Hotel from 7:30-9:00 pm. All students, teachers, parents, and guests are welcome
to attend.