Promoting Civic Competence & Responsibility
The primary goal of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students.
This national program, directed by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. At the same time, students discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Program Activities for Students
What makes the program so successful is the design of its instructional program, including its innovative culminating activity. The culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. This is performance assessment in action!
Elementary level classes may conduct noncompetitive hearings in front of a classroom or auditorium-size audience with community members acting as judges. Teachers at the middle school and high school level may conduct a noncompetitive hearing, but are encouraged to participate in the nationwide competitive program. High school teams compete at a statewide hearing, and state champions travel to Washington, D.C. in the spring to represent South Carolina in the We the People national finals.
Past Champions
2023 - 2024 Palmetto Academy for Success and Learning, Myrtle Beach, SC
2022 - 2023 Palmetto Academy for Success and Learning, Myrtle Beach, SC
2021 - 2022 Palmetto Academy for Success and Learning, Myrtle Beach, SC
2020 - 2021 Palmetto Academy for Success and Learning, Myrtle Beach, SC
2019 - 2020 Southeast Middle School, Columbia, SC
2018 - 2019 Dent Middle School, Columbia, SC
2016 - 2017 St. Anthony Catholic School, Florence, SC
2015 - 2016 Dent Middle School, Columbia, SC
2014 - 2015 St. Anthony Catholic School, Florence, SC
2023 - 2024 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2022 - 2023 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2021 - 2022 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2020 - 2021 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2019-2020 Academy for Arts, Science, and Technology, Myrtle Beach, SC
2018-2019 Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, SC
2017 - 2018 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2016 - 2017 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2015 - 2016 River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
2014 - 2015 Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, SC
2013 - 2014 Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC
2012 - 2013 Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC
2011 - 2012 Scholars Academy, Conway, SC
2010 - 2011 Scholars Academy, Conway, SC
2009 - 2010 Wilson High School, Florence, SC
2008 - 2009 Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC
2007 - 2008 Scholars Academy, Conway, SC
2006 - 2007 Scholars Academy, Conway, SC
2005 - 2006 Wilson High School, Florence, SC
2004 - 2005 Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC
2003 - 2004 Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC
2002 - 2003 Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC
2001 - 2002 Wilson High School, Florence, SC
2000 - 2001 Wilson High School, Florence, SC
1999 - 2000 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1998 - 1999 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1997 - 1998 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1996 - 1997 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1995 - 1996 Airport High School, Cayce, SC
1994 - 1995 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1993 - 1994 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1992 - 1993 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1991 - 1992 Airport High School, Cayce, SC
1990 - 1991 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1989 - 1990 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1988 - 1989 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
1987 - 1988 RB Stall High School, North Charleston, SC
Volunteer Opportunities
Judge classes of students on various units of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. The judging format has a class of students responding in six minutes to two of the three questions picked by the scoring judges and four minutes of follow-up questions posed by the scoring judges. (Students will have prepared for three questions provided to them prior to the competition.) Judges can pick from any of the six units or be randomly assigned to a unit. (see units below) Judges will receive a copy of the curricular materials and the three questions assigned for each unit to assist with judging preparation. Judging can be done as a whole or half day. Catered meals are provided.
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming public events at this time.
