# We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution

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. 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.
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. 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."

## 2023 results

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

## 2022 results

The 2022 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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

## 2021 results

The 2021 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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

## 2020 results

The 2020 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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

## 2019 results

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

## 2018 results

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

## 2017 results

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

## 2016 results

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

## 2015 results

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

## 2014 results

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

## 2013 results

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

## 2012 results

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

## 2011 results

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

## 2010 results

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

## 2009 results

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

## 2012 National Competition

* 1st: Lincoln High School, Portland, Oregon
* 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
* 3rd: Arcadia High School, Arcadia, California

## 2011 National Competition

* 1st: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
* 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
* 3rd: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey

## 2010 National Competition

* 1st: Arcadia High School, Arcadia, California
* 2nd: Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
* 3rd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia

## 2009 National Competition

* 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
* 2nd: Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
* 3rd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California

## 2008 National Competition

* 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
* 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
* 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

## 2007 National Competition

* 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
* 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
* 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

## 2006 National Competition

* 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
* 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
* 3rd: East High School, Denver, Colorado

## 2005 National Competition

* 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
* 2nd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon
* 3rd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia

## 2004 National Competition

* 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
* 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
* 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

## 2003 National Competition

* 1st: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
* 2nd: Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, Florida
* 3rd: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
National Champions
* 2002 Dobson High School, Mesa, Arizona
* 2001 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami Florida
* 2000 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami Florida
* 1999 Maine South High School, Park Ridge, Illinois
* 1998 East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, NJ
* 1997 Our Lady of Lourdes, Miami, FL
* 1996 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
* 1995 Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA
* 1994 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, FL
* 1993 Arcadia High School, Arcadia, CA
* 1992 East High School, Denver, CO
* 1991 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
* 1990 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
* 1989 Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, NE
* 1988 Gompers Secondary School, San Diego, CA