The Eighth Annual We the People National Invitational was previously scheduled to be held May 1-4, 2020, at the National Conference Center in the Washington, D.C. area. Due to health considerations surrounding the coronavirus, the in-person portions of the competition have been canceled. Click here for more information.
About the National Invitational
We the People middle and high school classes qualify to attend the National Invitational by participating in a simulated congressional hearing at the school, district, or state levels during the 2019-20 school year.
The National Invitational takes the form of simulated congressional hearing. During the hearings groups of students testify as constitutional experts before panels of judges acting as congressional committees. Each class is divided into six groups based on the six units of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution middle school textbook. Each hearing begins with a four minute opening statement by students and is followed by a six minute period of follow-up questioning during which judges probe students' depth of knowledge, understanding and their ability to apply constitutional principles. Classes have the opportunity to compete or showcase at the event. The format provides students an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles while providing the judges with an excellent means of assessing students' knowledge and application to historical and current constitutional issues.
About
While in Washington, D.C., students have the opportunity to tour our nation's capital and meet with members of Congress and other important dignitaries. Travel, lodging, and tour arrangements for classes are made by WorldStrides. The Center for Civic Education organizes all other aspects of the National Invitational.
