National Invitational: April 25-26, 2025
Join us for a prestigious and dynamic virtual competition on April 25–26, 2025. This is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students from across the nation to showcase their knowledge, critical thinking, and understanding of constitutional principles in simulated congressional hearings.
Information for Judges & Volunteers
The success of We the People competitions depends on the generosity of volunteers who serve as judges, facilitators, and timers. Community leaders, academics, attorneys, judges, public servants, elected officials, education professionals, program alums, and so many others are integral to every program, whether in person or online.
Become a Volunteer
Be a part of this impactful event as a volunteer! Volunteers play a critical role in engaging with students, providing feedback, and ensuring smooth virtual hearings.
Volunteer Roles
- Judges: Test students' knowledge of constitutional concepts through questioning and provide constructive feedback.
- Facilitators: Manage technical aspects, ensuring that hearings run smoothly.
Training and Registration
All volunteers will receive training and resources.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Judge Responsibilities
- Evaluate Presentations: You will observe student presentations, ask follow-up questions, and assess their understanding of the subject matter, critical thinking, and ability to articulate their positions.
- Score Using Rubrics: Each presentation will be scored using a detailed rubric provided before the event. The rubric will help ensure fair and consistent evaluation across all rounds.
- Provide Feedback: Your feedback is an invaluable part of the students' learning experience. Be sure to offer thoughtful and encouraging comments to help participants improve their skills.
- Orientation & Training: All judges are required to attend a mandatory online orientation session where you will receive in-depth training on the scoring rubric and judging process.
Facilitator Responsibilities
Requirements for All Volunteers
Judges' Resources
The following resources will be available soon. Please check back here for further updates:
- Hearing Questions (Middle School Teams)
- Hearing Questions (High School Teams / Questions 1 & 2)
- Scoring Rubric
- Judging Tutorial (Video)
Textbook Access
Judges will be provided with their own login to access an online copy of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution textbook. Feel free to utilize this as a reference in assessing students' performances.
Still Have Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Emily Voss by email. She can assist you or direct you to additional resources.
