We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, is a yearly competition involving high school students from throughout the United States. The national finals simulates a congressional hearing and is held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia, and in congressional hearing rooms on Capitol Hill.[1] Each class is divided into six units, each composed of three to six students. Each unit focuses on a particular area of Constitutional interest - from the philosophical underpinnings and Constitutional Convention to the Bill of Rights and modern day implications. Students are judged on criteria such as their understanding, reasoning, responsiveness, and use of constitutional applications.[2]
In preparation for the national finals, classes learn about government and study the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In each class the six unit groups prepare four-minute opening statements in response to three congressional hearing questions. Afterwards, judges ask students follow-up questions to test the depth of their knowledge on the topic in a six-minute question and answer period.[3] During the national finals over 1,200 students from 56 classes testify before a total of 72 judges, in panels of three. The judges are history, political science, law, and education professors, members of the legal community, and others with a knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
To qualify for the national finals, a class must win its state championship or qualify as a "wild card" class. The national finals takes place over three days, with the top twelve classes from the first two days advancing to the final round of competition in hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. At the national finals, each unit testifies on two hearing questions during the first two days of competition. The classes with the twelve highest combined scores advance to the final round on the third day. The top twelve places are determined by combining the scores from the first two days and a weighted final round score. Each year nearly $2,000,000 is raised in communities throughout the United States to support the national finals.
According to the Center for Civic Education, "Since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, more than 28 million students and 90 thousand educators have participated in the program and more than 30,000 students have participated in the national finals."[4]
The 2023 national competition was held in person for the first time since 2019
National Winners
1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
3rd Place: California - Foothill High School - Pleasanton
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
5th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa
6th Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Lincoln High School - Portland
7th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
8th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull
9th Place: California (Wild Card) - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
10th Place: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa
Division Winners
Division A: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers
Division B: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S. Freeman High School - Henrico
Division C: Nevada (Wild Card) - Reno High School - Reno
Division D: Nevada - Edward C. Reed High School - Sparks
Unit Awards
Unit 1: Connecticut (Wild Card) - Staples High School - Wesport
Unit 2: Michigan - East Kentwood High School - Kentwood
Unit 3: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton
Unit 4: North Carolina - Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh
Unit 5: Kentucky - Highlands High School - Fort Thomas
Unit 6: Arizona (Wild Card) - Hamilton High School - Chandler
The 2022 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
National Winners
1st Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
2nd Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers
3rd Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton
5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
6th Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
7th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
8th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
9th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa
10th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull
11th Place: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton
12th Place: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno
Division Winners
Division A: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge
Division B: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills
Division C: Oregon (Wild Card) - Central Catholic High School - Portland
Division D: Wyoming - Sheridan High School - Sheridan
Unit Awards
Unit 1: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids
Unit 2: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa
Unit 3: New Hampshire - Milford High School - Milford
Unit 4: Nevada (Wild Card) - West Career and Technical Academy - Las Vegas
Unit 5: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick
Unit 6: Utah - Green Canyon High School & Sky View High School - North Logan & Smithfield
The 2021 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
National Winners
1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
3rd Place: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa
5th Place: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa
6th Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton
7th Place: California - Irvington High School - Fremont
8th Place: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School - Incline Village
9th Place: Connecticut (Wild Card) - Trumbull High School - Trumbull
10th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
11th Place: Indiana - Hamilton Southeastern High School - Fishers
12th Place: Arizona (Wild Card) - Hamilton High School - Chandler
Division Winners
Division A: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton
Division B: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids
Division C: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa
Division D: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
Unit Awards
Unit 1: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick
Unit 2: Nebraska - Lincoln East High School - Lincoln
Unit 3: Oregon (Wild Card) - Cleveland High School - Portland
Unit 4: Connecticut - Staples High School - Westport
Unit 5: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills
Unit 6: North Carolina - Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh
The 2020 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
National Winners
1st Place: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton
2nd Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland
3rd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
Division Winners
Best team that did not place in the top 3, from each of 4 regions
Division A: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills
Division B: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
Division C: Connecticut - Staples High School - Westport
Division D: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno
Unit Awards
Highest unit scores from schools that were not national winners nor division winners.
Unit 1: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
Unit 2: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick
Unit 3: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School
Unit 4: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland
Unit 5: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge
Unit 6: Montana - Laurel High School - Laurel
National Winners
1st Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
2nd Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland
5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
6th Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico
7th Place: Indiana - Hamilton Southeastern High School - Fishers
8th Place: Indiana (Wild Card) - Fishers High School - Fishers
9th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
10th Place: Michigan (Wild card) - Black River Public School - Holland
Unit Awards
Highest unit scores from schools that were not national winners nor division winners.
Unit 1: Utah - Sky View High School/Green Canyon High School - Smithfield
Unit 2: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton
Unit 3: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge
Unit 4: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School - Incline Village
Unit 5: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa
Unit 6: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
2nd Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton
3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Lincoln High School - Portland
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
6th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
7th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley
8th Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers
9th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge
10th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa
National Winners
1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
3rd Place: Indiana - Cathedral High School - Indianapolis
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Indiana (Wild Card) - Plainfield High School - Plainfield
5th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
6th Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S. Freeman High School - Henrico
7th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
8th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills
9th Place: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - East Grand Rapids
10th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland
2nd Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver
3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills
5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond
6th Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers
7th Place: California - Arcadia High School - Arcadia
8th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull
9th Place: Washington - Tahoma Senior High School - Covington
10th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland
2nd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School - Richmond
3rd Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Washington - Tahoma Senior High School- Covington
5th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills
6th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
7th Place: Nevada - Edward C. Reed High School- Sparks
8th Place: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids
9th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick
10th Place: Indiana - Munster High School - Munster
Unit Awards
Unit 2: Wisconsin- Wauwatosa West High School- Wauwatosa
Unit 4: California- Arcadia High School- Arcadia
Unit 5: Arizona - Corona del Sol High School - Tempe
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon -Lincoln High School - Portland
2nd Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton
3rd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School - Richmond
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Indiana- Fishers High School- Fishers
5th Place: Alabama- Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills
6th Place: Michigan- East Grand Rapids High School- Grand Rapids
7th Place: Colorado- Grandview High School- Aurora
8th Place: Illinois- Maine South High School- Park Ridge
9th Place: Arizona- Corona del Sol- Tempe
10th Place: New Mexico- Highland High School- Albuquerque
Unit Awards
Unit 2: Wisconsin- Wauwatosa West High School- Wauwatosa Unit 3: New Jersey- East Brunswick High School- East Brunswick
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon-Grant High School-Portland
2nd Place: California- Amador Valley High School-Pleasanton
3rd Place: Colorado-Denver East High School-Denver
Honorable Mentions
4th Place: Alabama- Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills
5th Place: Indiana- Cathedral High School- Indianapolis
6th Place: Arizona- Corona del Sol High School- Tempe
7th Place: Washington- Tahoma Senior High School- Covington
8th Place: Connecticut- Trumbull High School- Trumbull
9th Place: Illinois- Maine South High School- Park Ridge
10th Place: Indiana (Wild Card)- Plainfield High School- Plainfield
National Winners
1st Place: Oregon-Lincoln High School-Portland
2nd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
3rd Place: California - Arcadia High School-Arcadia
4th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School
5th Place: Indiana - Munster High School
9th Place: North Carolina - Northwest Guilford High School
10th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School
National Winners
1st Place: Virginia Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
2nd Place: California Amador Valley High School
3rd Place: New Jersey East Brunswick High School
Honorable Mention
(top ten)
4th Place: Alabama Vestavia Hills High School
5th Place: Michigan East Grand Rapids High School
6th Place: Colorado
7th Place: Oregon
8th Place: North Carolina
9th Place: Illinois
10th Place: Indiana Munster High School
Unit Awards
Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition
Unit 1: Missouri
Unit 2: Rhode Island
Unit 3: South Dakota
Unit 4: New York
Unit 5: Washington
Unit 6: Kansas
Regional Awards
Best non-finalist team from each region
Western States: Alaska
Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico
Central States: Kentucky
Southeastern States: South Carolina
Northeastern States: Connecticut
National Winners
1st Place: California - Arcadia High School (Arcadia, California)
2nd Place: Alabama
3rd Place: Virginia
Honorable Mention
(top ten)
4th Place: Oregon
5th Place: Colorado
6th Place: New Jersey
7th Place: Florida
8th Place: Indiana
9th Place: Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Missouri
10th Place: Wisconsin
Unit Awards
Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition
Unit 1: Utah
Unit 2: Connecticut
Unit 3: Arizona
Unit 4: Vermont
Unit 5: Washington
Unit 6: Alaska
Regional Awards
Best non-finalist team from each region
Western States: Nevada
Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico
Central States: Michigan
Southeastern States: North Carolina
Northeastern States: New York
National Winners' Awards
1st Place: Colorado
2nd Place: Alabama
3rd Place: California
Honorable Mention
(top ten)
4th Place: Virginia
New Jersey
Indiana
Florida
Oregon
Michigan
Connecticut
Unit Awards
Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition
Unit 1: Nevada
Unit 2: New York
Unit 3: New Hampshire
Unit 4: Alaska
Unit 5: Wisconsin
Unit 6: Texas
Regional Awards
Best non-finalist team from each region
Western States: Arizona
Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico
Central States: Missouri
Southeastern States: North Carolina
Northeastern States: Vermont
National Champions