Created by the Center for Civic Education

Then Funded by the U.S. Department of Education

By Act of Congress

Established in 1987 under the Commission on the Bicentennial

Of the United States Constitution

Now sponsored by the State Bar of Nevada

SOUTHERN NEVADA CONGRESSIONAL

DISTRICT COMPETITION December 15, 2018

Sierra Vista High School

8100 W Robindale Road

Las Vegas, NV 89113

SOUTHERN NEVADA

2018 DISTRICT COMPETITION

Elected Representatives Supporting We the People Program

The Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto U.S. Senator The Honorable Dean Heller, U.S. Senator

The Honorable Jacky Rosen, U.S. Representative for District Three

The Honorable Mark Amodei, U.S. Representative for District Two

The Honorable Dina Titus, U.S. Representative for District One

The Honorable Ruben Kihuen, U.S. Representative for District Four

The Honorable Brian Sandoval, Governor of Nevada

Nevada’s State Coordinators

Kathleen Dickinson, Law Related Education State Coordinator, State Bar of Nevada

Vanessa Dalton, Vicki Hetherington, Law Related Education Assistants State Bar of Nevada

Congressional District 1

Debbie Berger

Congressional District 2

Marc Picker, Jenna Garcia, Will R. Hull, Zelalem Bogale

Congressional District 3

Trey Delap

Congressional District 4

Michael Vannozzi

Clark County School District

Clark County Election Department

Field Office Director/DHS-USCIS

Tabulation leader is Trent Harper

PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS

District 1 Chaparral High School, Clark High School, College of Southern Nevada West High School, Eldorado High School,

Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, Rancho High School, Spring Valley High School,

District 3 American Preparatory Academy, College of Southern Nevada South High School, Faith Lutheran High School,

Foothill High School, Silverado College Preparatory & Career/Technical High School,

Southwest Career and Technical Academy, West Career Technical Academy

District 4 Arbor View High School, Canyon Springs High School, Cheyenne High School Cimarron-Memorial High School,

College of Southern Nevada East, Sunrise Mountain, Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy,

West Preparatory Academy

District One

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

District Three

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

District Four

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

JUDGES, DISTRICT COMPETITION

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Judges Orientation — Cafeteria

Volunteers and Tabulation — Cafeteria

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Students report to assigned rooms

Congressional District One: Chaparral High School, Clark High School, College of Southern Nevada West High School,

Eldorado High School, Las Vegas Academy, Rancho High School,

Spring Valley High School

Congressional District Three: American Preparatory Academy, College of Southern Nevada High School, Faith Lutheran

Middle School and High School, Foothill High School, Silverado College Preparatory and

Career/Technical High School, Southwest Career and Technical Academy,

West Career and Technical Academy

Congressional District Four: Arbor View High School, Canyon Springs High School, Cheyenne High School,

Cimarron-Memorial High School, College of Southern Nevada East High School,

Sunrise Mountain High School, Veterans Tribute Career Technical Academy

8:45 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. Opening Ceremony — Gymnasium

(All Judges, Students, and Guests)

Welcome and introductions: Kathleen Dickinson, Law Related Education Coordinator,

State Bar of Nevada

Sierra Vista High School Color Guard:

Robert S. Brown , Command Sergeant Major, USA (Retired)

Color Guard : Cadet Leong; Cadet Asmerom; Cadet Smith

Cadet Peronto; Cadet Harvey

Cadet Grujic; Cadet Hay

Cadet Miller; Cadet Avilla

Pledge of Allegiance and Singing of the National Anthem performed by:

Introduction of Judges and Competition Orientation and Rules: Judge Elissa Cadish

9:25 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. All students report to assigned rooms

9:30 a.m. - 12:35p.m. Competition Rounds

12:25 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. General Assembly for Awards Ceremony — Gymnasium

Masters of Ceremonies: Debbie Berger, Trey Delap, Trent Harper and Michael Vannozzi

Demonstration of Voting Machines

1:00 p.m.—1:30 p.m. Immigration and Naturalization Ceremony

Moderated by:

THE HONORABLE Elissa Cadish

District Court Judge

8th Judicial District, Clark County Nevada

THANK YOU

The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution District Competition wishes

to thank the following sponsors and volunteers whose generous efforts have

made this program possible:

Center for Civic Education, State Bar of Nevada, Nevada Humanities, Judge Philip Pro,

Timothy Kelley, Clark County School District, Sierra Vista High School,

Principal John Anzalone; Sierra Vista High School’s Color Guard;

Our Congressional staffs and all of the judges, teachers, parents and students here today.

The Following Volunteers & CCSD Educators: Shannon La Neve

Director of Humanities Curriculum and Professional Development Division

Clark County School District; Laura Fischer, Project Facilitator for Social Studies and

World Language; David Roddy, Public Information Specialist

Communications Office; Loren Webb,

Sierra Vista High School organizations and students: Student Council, DECA,

Key Club, National Honor Society,

Food Trucks: Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs, Kona Ice Trilogy LLC,

Señor Blue and The Lunch Crew Catering

State Bar of Nevada

3100 W. Charleston Boulevard, Ste. 100

Las Vegas, NV 89102

(702) 382.2200

www.nvbar.org/content/law-related-education

WE THE PEOPLE DISTRICT COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ONE

Chaparral High School

Las Vegas, NV

David Snyder, M.A., Teacher

Lolo James, Principal

Students: Letaria Benne, Christine Aurea Bernal, Dylan Briones, Christopher Chavarria, Victoria Dominguez, Jacob Gelabert, Diana Gonzalez,

Erika Lopez Valdez, Malaysia McDaniel, Kimberly Pacheco, Deonica Perry, Melany Rico, Hugo Salgado, Jr., Rosa Sanchez,

Jennifer Vences-Estrada

Clark High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Lance Stockley, Teacher

Jillyn Pendleton, Principal

Students: Devika Bararia, Taylor Bronson, Evan Crosby, Maximilian Foels, Maximiliano Garcia-Inguanzo, Jennifer Glezen, Shreya Kamojjala,

Tristen McGee-James, Violet Nikolova, Katrina Pineda, Chanel Pulido, Megan Ruder, Aisha Sanwal, Shivam Saran, Zachary Walusek,

Jeffry Yoon

College of Southern Nevada West High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Melissa Jock, Teacher

George Leavens, Principal

Students: Areli Alarcon, Gregorio Alberto, Omar Arcila, Mason Coffman, Shyanti Franco, Tina Fung, Kimberly Guo, Jacob Howard, Willaine

Kahano, Yarlin Mayor Garcia, Perri McGillivray, Kaitlyn Newman-Montgomery, Conan Ng, Taylor Omoto, Amaris Puppel, Itzel Sinoto,

Carl Tiglao, Vanessa Tsuji

Eldorado High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Timothy Stolte, Teacher

David Wilson, Principal

Students: Jordan Argellas, Angela Barajas, Rowena Beeson, Anabelle Boeckner, Manuel Buenrostro, Enrique Carrillo, Jack Escobedo,

Breanna-Katelyn Gabb, Jonathan Gallardo, Lleni Garcia-Gonzalez, Sandra Hermosillo, Kale Hernandez, Bryan Hernandez-Araiza, Alan Martinez,

Jose Mejia, Kelly Navarro, Emily Post, Andre Rodriguez, Daniel Sabido-Mendoza, Ramon Sillas-Quintero, Ryan Sternberg, Jonathan Thomas,

Nick Torres

Las Vegas Academy

Las Vegas, Nevada

Shea Dokken, Teacher

Scott Walker, Principal

Students: Tanya Gabrielle Abarico, Eve Barron, Evelyn Blomquist, Ciya Clyde, Truth Colon, Dejan Djukic, Isabel Ferguson, Alexandra Hager,

Miranda Johnson, Paulina Kerrigan, Sarah Kompare, Rachel Langgin, Mikella Larese, Illissa McBrayer, Sarah McIntosh, Megli Micek,

Summer Mower, Joshua O’Brien, Sarah Pisarsky, Megan Pridmore, Kylee Quist, Eduardo Ramirez, Lizette Ramirez, Michelle Ray, Wish Read,

Tiana Richards, Rachel Rush, Kaylee Schuele, Chloe St. George, Tessa Grace Tan-Torres, Tristan Thomson, Sirena Vergara, Leonard Versola,

Ian Walton

Rancho High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Ryan Ruttan, Teacher

Dr. James Kuzma, Principal

Students: Kamryn A. Allen, Mya G. Alva Najera, Kevin J. Angeles, Naomi K. Arbide-Susarrey, Michelle Avila, Eleusis Bravo Avendano,

Gia Renemae Calip, Selena A. Campos, Alan D. Chavez, Brittany E. Corcran, Kevin Echevarria Echevarria, Kennedy A. Elliott, Jalen J. Franklin,

Hazel B. Garcia-Galindo, Evan W. Greener, Brisa Hernandez, Pathan Hiranrak, Anna R. Irwin, Autumn C. Kidd, Robert Kiffs, Ethan S. Krammer,

Katelyn Mara, Eduardo Millan, Danielle M. Montenegro, Melissa Morras, Raul Nunez, Marina Parsom, Eduardo G. Quintanilla, Raul D. Ruiz,

Michael J. Singler, Tyler P. Stillings, Allison Tang, Tyler J. Tressler, Nicholas J. Vitiello, Gavin U. Waldner, Tensae B. Woldeamlak

Spring Valley High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Brian Backman, Teacher

Tam Larnerd, Principal

Students: Treraphat Chainarongrit, Laniyah Clark, Elyse Dang, Shelby Felix, Caitlin Gaddis, Fiona Kidane, Victor Liu, Gerardo Mendoza,

Biftu Mengistu, Mykenzie Midby, Savannah Mitchell-Sherrod, Carla Mosley, Evelyn Mozqueda, Heydy Nunez, Kiara Ortiz Guerrero,

Donna Petrov, Pablo Ponce, Ariel Marie Quidilla, Elexesninnia Villanda, Justin Wong, Tia Zghaib

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THREE

American Preparatory Academy

Las Vegas, Nevada

Frank Grealish, Teacher

Christie Olivieri, Principal

Students: Dillon Brouwer, Kamonkan Gamnerdsiri, Ameer Haque, Giada Pernice, Joshua Piones, Dai-Nien Tran

College of Southern Nevada South High School

Henderson, Nevada

Cameron Stuber, Teacher

George Leavens Principal

Students: Emily Anderson, Samantha Couvilion, Angelica Dator, Sade Franklin, Christa Gerber, Nika Jenabi, Lea Jensen, Mary Judkins,

Abraham Lugo, Grace Newmarker, Lila Ochoa, Brian Reed, Richard Ruiz, Sydney Stoddard, Janelle Vazquez, Samantha Wagner

Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Ryan Watts, Teacher

Scott Fogo, Principal

Students: Quran Allen, Greer DeBoni, Nathan Galla, Eugene Kim, Marie Langer, Mariah Llerenas, Noah Maciulewicz, Nora Paulos,

Luke Richardson, Kelsie Seigle, Summer Stadtlander, Parker Sylvester

Foothill High School

Henderson, Nevada

Kaela Boersma Teacher

Lisa Burkhead, Principal

Students: Joel Benavidez, Zachary Cowdell, Nicholas Cullen, Shaina Day, Abbey Flinders, Eduardo Garcia-Castaneda, Miyah Gornot,

Emma Grant, Ryan Haines, Dylan Hushaw, Kelton Lachelt, Wyatt Papka, Tyler Plateroti, Jordan Wilson, Logan Winter

Silverado College Prepatory & Career/Technical High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Melanie J. Pavlides Teacher

Jamie Ditto, Principal

Students: Alexandra A. Amaya, Gisel E. Arriaga, Tyler A. Barfield, Jennie M. Batac, Destiny L. Byrd, Ashyra J. Castro, Shiny Chien,

Logan W. Edington, Sanaii L. Edwards, Jaeden K. Garcia, Isabela M. Herrera, Mckenzie O. Jean-Baptiste, Ethan M. Jones, Kate L. Katigbak, Jiego

G. Lim, Faith A. McCormick, Ashley N. McCoy, William G. Miller, Chaz K. Navarro, McKenzie F. Papa, Costandinos, T. Pappas,

Adrian E. Quispe, Athena Rowe, Sebastian C. Sivert, Brody N. Storbakken, Brandon J. Velasquez, Mark M. Wong, Michelle T. Angeles,

Ulises H. Arteaga Rangel, Ethan J. Bacolod, Caroline T. Bautista, Vanessa M. Booth, Brandon Allen B. Catacutan, James Ho, Allison A. Honold,

Laura R. Leon-Farag, Troy D. Murray, Antonio J. Padua, Kori R. Shalmy

Southwest Career & Technical Academy

Las Vegas, Nevada

Joseph Juliano, Teacher

Donna Levy, Principal

Students: Brittny Mikhaiel, Brooke Sorensen, Hannah Podolske, Abigail Weeks, Christiana Guerra, Andrea Barber, Gabriela Hernandez Lugo,

Grace Laudencia, Gabrielle Desear, Jared Hansen, Kesler Cervantes, Ally Chan, Yoana Ontiveros, Min Kang, William Tchen, Rim Ghebremeskel,

Zoe Crisostomo, Lindsay Lopez, Justine Verastigue, Michelle Castro, Lauryn Kern

West Career & Technical Academy

Las Vegas, Nevada

Adriane Casolari, Teacher

Amy Dockter-Rozar, Principal

Students: Lauren Antin, Madeline Carter, Alexandra Dominguez, Adam Esrig, Grey Garcia, Margaret Harris, Frederick Heil, Jaclyn Hickey,

David Islas, Michael Jati, Xin Yi Ke, Tyler Kim, Jude Kocka, Pedro Martinez Calleja, Saha Salahi, Parker Samuelson, Kalina Tatareva,

Ariana Zandi

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOUR

Arbor View High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Diane M. Jackson, Teacher

Kevin McPartlin, Principal

Students: Aaron Oliva, Alexia Bogden, Anastazija, Jackson, Ariana Rosado, Ashley Kristich, Braden Zane, Breanna Rosengren, Britney Hill,

Destini Coward, Elisa De La Torre, Evan Shelton, Hunter Satterfield, Madison Mailloux, Samantha Opsuth, Sebastian Vega, Skylar Lee,

Zachary Rhodes, Zoey McLemore, Zuri Cong

Canyon Springs High School

North Las Vegas, Nevada

Dr. Lou Grillo, Teacher

Greg Hunter, Principal

Students: Sarah Mae Agbilay, Caleb Andes, Ryen Ball, Erika Barrales, Joseph D’Quan Collier, Matthew Dodds, Leora Mae Dumanlang,

Nyah Finnie, Courtney Fulmer, Rachel Gardner, Lyric Gibson, Zoe Leonore Glepa, Kaiim Goff, Marisol Jara-Amparan, Gianni Lopez,

Karla Magana, Michael Marquez, Justin Paul, Michelle Penaloza, Paola Piedra, Bryana Rave, Gavin Rhynes, Wyko Salvador,

Leonardo Sanchez-Zamora, Mileidy Soriano, Jay Tumanan, Tony Washington, Sarah Wu

Cheyenne High School

Las Vegas, Nevada Tyrone Armstrong, Teacher

Dr. Zachary Robbins, Principal

Students: Melanie Aleman, Jayla Alexis, Jocelyn Alvarez, Dayanna Arjon, Artwillis Bryant, Ryan Buchanan, Heaven Burgin, Miya Burns,

Shawn Coleman, Vanessa Cuchillo, Leslie Galarza Luna, Joshua Garbutt, Donnell Heckard, Brianna Hernandez, Kayley Huffman,

A’kaylee Jarmon, Justice John, Rafael Joseph Llamzon, David Mason, Jordan Martin, Oscar Mena, Joe Moreno, Shaniya Mouton,

Peony Pena Diaz, Mateya Perez, Jasmine Serrano, Alana Stewart, Christopher Rose, Kody Stolworthy, Emely Torres, Jakeline Valerio,

Ricardo Zuniga-Alaniz, Vanessa Desales, Alexander Hernandez, Eliyana Landers

Cimarron-Memorial High School

Las Vegas, Nevada Ryan T. Brooks, Teacher

Lori Lawson-Sarabyn, Principal

Students: Annasha Benavidez, Lori Cespedes-Zavaleta, Justin Cummins, Louis Estrada, Grace Fuentes, Marrissa Galvez, Irely Garcia,

Arely Godinez Valencia, Brylee Hanson, Cedric Hooks, Amber Johnson, Kevin Love, Chassidy Lynn, Aukay Maytorena, Destiny Middleton,

Benjamin Molina, Catherine Mondaca, Tatum Napoli, Philip Obradovic, Joshua Ross, Skylar Smith, Alyson Stone, Melissa Tinajero-Gonzalez,

Dustan Wile

College of Southern Nevada East High School

Henderson, Nevada Cameron Fox, Teacher

George Leavens Principal

Room Aides: Angie Gobran, Zaneta Morales, Amy Rice, Ramy Goergi, and Treanna Bowman,

Students: Alianna Carrison, Deisy Anahi Dominguez Gonzalez, Naithan Hellyer, Serenity I. Logan, Alexandra R. Luckett,

Hunter Alexander Murphy, Svetlana M. Nathan, Claire Petersen, Wendy Placido, Layla Artemisa Roper, Kylee Grace Traylor, Coree Walker

Sunrise Mountain High School

Las Vegas, Nevada Steven F. Moshides, Teacher

Julia Llapur, Principal

Students: Anthony J. Aguilar, Magaly Ayala Felix, Sylar Baily, Jorge Esparza, Karina Garcia Lopez, Ambar N. Gonzalez Sanchez,

Nicolle A. Guzman, Ruben S. Guzman, Skarleth Hernandez Diaz, Luis A. Luna, Shaun M. Maloney, Ashley Miller, Brisa Moreno Gonzalez,

Ahnayiah I. Morris, Queen M. Redick, Jose R. Tinoco Valdovinos, Andre M. Torrez, Roberto Venegas, Lupita Verdin Godinez, Tee Williams

Veterans Tribute Career Technical Academy

Las Vegas, Nevada

Kevin Barney, Teacher

Tammy Cullum Boffelli, Principal

Students: Lizeth Carrera, Viviana Catalan, Antonella Choi, Adamaris Cruz, Janelle Cubillo, Kathryn Fontano, Renzo Gazzolo, Cassidy Griffith,

Luciano Herrera, Alexiz Jenkins, Ashlie Kemer, Sarah Lax, Isaiah Ogata, Callan Renninger, Jennifer Seeley, Kyra Segoviano, Emily Stevens,

Kimi Whitehead

West Preparatory High School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Averill Kelley, Teacher

Danny Eichelberger, Principal

Students: Fahmo Abdullahi, Ariel Anderson, Bianca Bittner, Alan Carreon, Osbaldo Carrillo, Carlos Coreas, Juan Flores Bello, Hector Garcia,

Adan Garcia, Jackelin Gaspar, Oscar Gavino Hernandez, Abril Giron, Melissa Gomez, Victor Heredia, Carlos Hernandez-Canizalez,

Emma Hortan-Torijano, Mei-Hua Lee, Josue Marquez, Daniela Martinez, Jimmy Martinez Miguel, Charles Palomar Duran, Elijah J. Pama,

Daniela Parra, Angel Pascual, Frank Perez, Melissa Placido, Erick Quezada Huerta, Joanna Resendiz Reyes, Carlos Rodriguez-Ruiz,

Gloria Ruiz Armas, Elizabeth Santiago, Leah Sanz, Pedro Sigala, Luis Soto

COMPETITION ROUNDS

Unit numbers represent the units each school will compete on at the allotted times:

District One Competing Classes (7)

Congressional

District One Chaparral

High

School

209

Clark

High

School

211

CSN West

High

School

216

El Dorado

High

School

208

Las Vegas

Academy

of the Arts

210

Rancho

High

School

200

Spring Valley

High School

219

8:45 - 9:25 am Opening Ceremony

9:30 - 9:47 am Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE

9:50 - 10:07 am BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI

10:10 -10:27 am Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V

10:30 -10:47 am Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV

11:00 - 11:17 am BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

11:20 - 11:37 am Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III

11:40 - 11:57 am Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II

12:00 - 12:17 pm Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I

12:20 - 12:55 pm BREAK – observe Voting Machines

1:00 - 1:30 pm Immigration Naturalization Ceremony

12:50 - 2:30 pm Closing Ceremony

District Three Competing Classes (7)

Congressional

District Three American

Preparatory

Academy

312

CSN South

High

School

314

Faith

Lutheran

High

School

318

Foothill

High

School

326

Silverado

Preparatory

High School

300

Southwest

CTA

308

West

CTA

300

8:45 - 9:25 am Opening Ceremony

9:30 - 9:47 am Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE

9:50 - 10:07 am BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI

10:10 - 10:27 am Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V

10:30 - 10:47 am Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III Unit IV

11:00 - 11:17 am BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

11:20 - 11:37 am Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III

11:40 - 11:57 am Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II

12:00 - 12:17 pm Unit II Unit III Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I

12:20 - 12:55 pm BREAK – observe Voting Machines

1:00 - 1:30 pm Immigration Naturalization Ceremony

12:50 - 2:30 pm Closing Ceremony

State Bar of Nevada

3100 W. Charleston Boulevard, Ste. 100

Las Vegas, NV 89102

702.382.2200

District Four Competing Classes (8)

Congressional

District Four Arbor

View

High

School

800

Canyon

Springs

High

School

801

Cheyenne

High

School

803

Cimarron-

Memorial

High

School

804

CSN

East

High

School

808

Sunrise

Mountain

High

School

807

Veterans

Tribute

806

West

Preparatory

Academy

805

8:45 - 9:25 am Opening Ceremony

9:30 - 9:47 am Unit I Unit II Unit III BYE Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE

9:50 - 10:07 am BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III BYE Unit IV Unit V Unit VI

10:10 - 10:27 am Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III BYE Unit IV Unit V

10:30 - 10:47 am Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III BYE Unit IV

11:00 - 11:17 am BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

11:20 - 11:37 am Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III BYE

11:40 - 11:57 am BYE Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II Unit III

12:00 - 12:17 pm Unit III BYE Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I Unit II

12:20 - 12:37 pm Unit II Unit III BYE Unit IV Unit V Unit VI BYE Unit I

12:40 - 1 pm BREAK – observe Voting Machines

1:00 - 1:30 pm Immigration Naturalization Ceremony

1:30 - 2:30 pm Closing Ceremony

State Bar of Nevada

3100 W. Charleston Boulevard, Ste. 100

Las Vegas, NV 89102

702.382.2200

Rules for High School Competition

2018-2019

Structure of the Hearings

During simulated congressional hearings on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, high school students will appear before

"congressional committees” consisting of volunteer judges from the community. As members of a committee, judges will hear oral

presentations from groups of students on selected constitutional issues. Students are treated as experts who have been asked to testify

before the congressional committee on their particular topic. The chair of the committee will conduct the proceedings. The chair

may be one of the judges or someone in addition to the panel of judges such as a member of Congress, the district coordinator, or a

prominent community member. Judges are encouraged to play the role of a congressional committee member as much as possible.

Each competing class will bring six groups to the hearings, one group for each of the six units in the textbook We the People…The

Citizen and the Constitution. Each-group has been given three questions on its topic to prepare-in advance. The group will not know

which of the three questions it will be required to answer until the question is asked by the judges. The students will respond to their

group's question with a four minute prepared presentation during which they may use notes. They will then respond for six minutes

to follow-up questions by the judges. Each of the six class groups will thus appear before the judges for a total of ten minutes. The

judges will listen to each group’s presentation, question the group on its topic, and score each group. The class’ total score will

consist of the combined scores received by its six groups. The class with the highest total score will be declared the winner and will

advance to the next level of hearings.

Hearing Questions

As mentioned above, the panels of three judges will select one of the three questions to ask each student group. These questions have

been provided to teachers in advance of the hearing by the Center for Civic Education. After hearing a group’s prepared

presentation, judges will ask the students follow-up questions during a six minute period. The Center for Civic Education will

provide suggested follow-up questions which coordinators will give to judges to use whenever appropriate. However, judges are

encouraged to focus much of their questioning on what students said in their four-minute presentation, keeping in mind the scoring

criteria described below.

Timing

For each hearing, there will be an official timer who should not be one of the judges. The timer should keep strictly to the framework

of ten minutes per team: four minutes for the initial oral presentation and six minutes for the follow-up questioning. Timers will

silently notify groups by holding up a card when they have one minute left in their initial oral presentation and again when there is

one minute left in the follow-up period. When time has expired, the timer will stop all participants by showing “Time” or “Stop”.

Every effort should be made to observe the time limits. However, at the discretion of the judges extra time may be allowed a group

to compensate for any situation that significantly reduces the time allowed for response to questions. For example, if a judge has

taken an excessive amount of time to phrase a question, extra time may be granted to the student group for its response.

Use of Notes or Materials

Students may use notes on paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches during the four minute presentation period. No other materials or

references may be used. Neither notes nor any other materials may be used during the follow up question period.

Students, Parents & Guests

Students, parents of students, and guests of the school should remain in the assigned rooms. The only individuals that are allowed to

go from room to room to watch other teams compete are judges, coordinators, and designated visitors. Every effort should be made

to refrain from entering or exiting the room once a hearing has started. The competition schedule incorporates three-minute breaks

between each team’s presentation for restroom and water breaks.

Judging Criteria

Judges will score each student group on the basis of six criteria. These criteria are: understanding, constitutional application,

reasoning, supporting evidence, responsiveness, and participation. Throughout their assessment of student performance, judges are

careful to base their scores on the six established criteria and not on whether the judges agree with positions students might take.

For each criterion listed, each judge will score the group on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best score). Judges must use a separate

form for each group. The scorekeeper will total class scores on a separate summary form. The class with the highest total score will

be the overall winner. Judges will also be asked to award up to 100 bonus points to each class group for its overall performance

above and beyond the six basic criteria. In the event of a tie, these bonus points for a class, six groups will be totaled and the tying

class with the highest number of bonus points will be declared the winner. Tie—breaker points should be awarded for overall

performance of the group using the following guidelines:

Excellent 90 to 100 points

Very Good 80 to 89 points

Average 70 to 79 points

Below Average 0 to 69 points

Feedback

Although students are not told how their hearings were scored, they are given some feedback immediately following their

presentation. Because of time constraints, the feedback is brief and includes comments on the group’s strengths and suggestions for

improvement.