Release: Students from Across the Nation Gather to Practice Democracy in We the People Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2026

Media Contact:
Patrice N. Snow — 803.317.1181
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Center for Civic Education

Washington, D.C. — Beginning this Friday, April 17 and running until Sunday, April 19, 1,050 high school students from the West Coast to the East Coast and everywhere in between, will gather at the Montgomery County Conference Center for the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals.

This is not a typical high school competition. These students are stepping into the role of constitutional experts.

Hosted by the Center for Civic Education, the National Finals brings together top teams that have advanced through state-level competitions. In simulated congressional hearings, students present and defend their understanding of the Constitution before panels of scholars, judges, public officials, and civic leaders. They are challenged to analyze complex questions, think critically, and respond in real time.

The result is fast-paced, rigorous, and deeply relevant.

“This is the practice of democracy in real time," said Dr. Donna Phillips, President and CEO of the Center for Civic Education. “They are grappling with foundational constitutional questions, listening to competing perspectives, and building arguments grounded in evidence. This is what meaningful civic learning looks like in practice.”

The National Finals are the culmination of months of preparation. In classrooms across the country, students have studied primary sources, debated constitutional issues, and practiced civil discourse. By the time they arrive next week, they are ready not just to recall information, but to apply it.

One team will be named national champion at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 19. The top ten teams and additional award winners will be recognized, and the ceremony will be livestreamed for public viewing.

“What makes the National Finals so powerful is the moment when preparation meets performance,” said Emily Voss, Senior Manager of National Events and Professional Learning at the Center for Civic Education. “Students must think on their feet, collaborate with their teammates, and respond thoughtfully under pressure. It is an experience they carry with them long after the competition ends.”

The We the People program has reached more than 30 million students and 75,000 educators over the past four decades. Each year, thousands of students travel to the Washington, DC area to take part in the National Finals, joining a longstanding tradition of experiential civic learning.

Only one team will be named national champion, but every student leaves with something far more lasting: the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in civic life. The media is invited to attend the We the People National Finals. To RSVP or arrange coverage, contact Patrice N. Snow at 803.317.1181 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Center for Civic Education is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating an informed and thoughtful citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. We do this primarily through our flagship programs, We the People and Project Citizen, but we also provide high-quality, inquiry-driven curricular programs that bring civic learning to life. The Center additionally equips educators with professional learning that builds confidence and capacity to teach civics with depth and relevance, unlocks students’ civic agency by creating opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and share their voices through simulated hearings and other public forums. These initiatives build a national community committed to strengthening civic understanding and participation for all and root everything in decades of research and evidence.