National Invitational: May 10-11, 2024

National Invitational teams may participate from their home state or choose to travel to Washington, D.C. If a team decides to travel, virtual hearing rooms will be arranged at the students’ hotel. Travel, lodging, and tour arrangements for classes are organized through WorldStrides. The Center for Civic Education manages all other aspects of the National Invitational.

The We the People National Invitational is open to any middle or high school class who will have competed in a school-wide, regional, district, or state hearing. The National Invitational intends to support the widest possible participation from a broad range of students. There is no minimum number of students that can participate in the event. Each participating class, however, must answer all six unit questions to participate.

For purposes of the National Invitational, a “class” must:

• Be constituted according to the school’s policies and procedures for student admittance to a class.
• Be designated on the school’s main schedule as a required or elective class.
• Complete an expected minimum of thirty-six hours of instruction and hearing preparation.
• Enter all enrollees in an official class roster.
• Participate in a school and/or district- or state-level simulated congressional hearing before participating in the National Invitational.

For purposes of the National Invitational, a “class” must:

• Be approved by a sponsoring organization or school and the Center for Civic Education.
• Be taught by a teacher/facilitator designated by the sponsoring organization or school.
• Complete an expected minimum of thirty-six hours of instruction and hearing preparation.
• Enter all enrollees in an official class roster and participate in a local and/or state-level simulated congressional hearing before participating in the National Finals.

For purposes of the National Invitational, a teacher/facilitator must agree to the following:

• Teach all six units of the We the People textbook to the entire class.
• Divide the class into six groups, each responsible for its assigned unit.
• Ensure that each group has at least three members and that all groups are sized as equally as possible.
• Enter all students in an official class roster, including each student's unit assignment(s).