March 2017 Newsletter

News from the Center for Civic Education

Preparing for the National Finals, the James Madison Legacy Project Moves Forward, and More

We the People National Roster Finalized, See Who's Bound for D.C.

Earlier this month, the We the People state competitions $emdash1 that the official roster for the 2017 We the People National Finals is now available! The roster is an exciting mix of old-guard teams and fresh faces. As always, we can't wait to see how the competition shapes up. Will you be following your state's team this April? You can read the full list of participating teams here.

Prepare for We the People National Finals and Invitational with the Official Hearing Questions

Are you a student or teacher prepping for the National Finals or National Invitational? Make sure to get your hands on a copy of the official hearing questions. National Finals questions are available here, and National Invitational questions are available here. Even if you won't be heading to D.C. this April, the questions are a fun challenge for anyone who loves civic education.

The James Madison Legacy Project Gathers for Second Annual Meeting, See the Photos and Video Here

In late February, JMLP mentors and state coordinators from across the country gathered in Southern California for their second annual meeting. The three-day weekend was full of workshops, panels, group discussion, and planning sessions that are guaranteed to make the JMLP shine as it enters its third year. Relive this special weekend with our photos and videos.

Quick Quiz! Which of these rights is not specifically mentioned in the First Amendment?

a. Freedom of the press
b. The right to associate
c. The right to assemble
d. The right to petition

Read on to find out the answer!

Teach Women's History Month with Our Lessons

Did you know March is Women's History Month? The commemorative month was established by Congress in 1987. March 8, International Women's Day, was adopted by the United Nations in 1975. As you prepare to teach your class about suffrage, the Equal Rights Amendment, and more, turn to our website for great lesson plans and activities for the whole class.

A Century of Women in Congress

In 1917, Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to hold national office in the United States. To commemorate this major moment in history, the House of Representatives has created "A Century of Women in Congress," a collection of history, stories, and photos that celebrate all women have accomplished on Capitol Hill in the past hundred years. Additionally, the retrospective is accompanied by a collection of lesson plans to help guide teachers through the material.

We the People Teacher Katie Boland "Changes Lives"

At Trumbull High School, students will tell you that Katie Boland is special. Students in her We the People class say they are constantly inspired by her passion and knowledge about civics and government. Katie and her class ranked eighth at last year's We the People National Finals, and will be competing in this year's competition, as well. To learn more about this Teacher-of-the-Year winner and her class, click below.

Alaska Middle Schoolers Shine with Project Citizen

In Eagle River, Alaska, three middle schoolers are striving to make a difference in their community, with a little help from Project Citizen. Project Citizen, a Center for Civic Education program, helps students understand how laws are made and encourages them to develop their own legislation. For the Eagle River middle schoolers, their goal is to add substance abuse counselors to their local high school staff..

QUIZ ANSWER: b) the right to associate. All other rights are specifically listed in the First Amendment, but the right to associate is not. The courts have said that it is implied by the other rights in the First $emdash2 particular by the rights of free speech and assembly.

Shop Amazon to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.