STATE AND NATIONAL CONTEST SCHEDULEDepartment of California State Finals Contest - Date of California State Contest: TBA
More information on the Department, Local, District and Area contests will be available soon.
Links to these contest locations will be placed here as made available.
National Finals Contest
UPDATE: To request information about contests in your location click here.
NEW: To view the 2011 pairing brackets click here.
You can download the Oratorical Rules Brochure click here. - The national finals contest will be April 15-17, 2011, at the University Place Conference Center & Hotel, 850 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests will be Saturday, April 16. The championship contest will be Sunday, April 17.
All contestants and chaperones will arrive Friday, April 15. All contestants and chaperones will stay at the University Place Conference Center Hotel.
A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will be Friday evening, April 15. A banquet honoring all contestants will be Sunday afternoon, April 17. All contestants and chaperones will depart for home later that afternoon.
PURPOSE - The purpose of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a better understanding and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.
ELIGIBILITY - Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States.
All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of twenty (20) on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Further, to participate in the California contest, students must be residents of the state of California. Students whose parents or guardians are legal residents of another state must participate in that state. HOW TO ENTER - There is no application required to enter. Just contact your local American Legion Post for entry into the local or district contest. SCHOLARSHIPS - The Department of California awards $5,000 annually for Oratorical Scholarships to the six finalists in the Department Finals. Scholarships are as follows: Winner | $1,200.00 | 1st Runner Up | $1,000.00 | 4-Runners Up | $700.00 |
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In addition to the Department scholarships, a $1,500.00 scholarship is awarded to each first round Department winner who participates in the National Contest. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the Final Round will receive an additional $1,500. National scholarships awarded to the three finalist in the Final Round are as follows: First Place | $18,000.00 | Second Place | $16,000.00 | Third Place | $14,000.00 |
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PREPARED ORATION - The subject to be used for the Prepared Orations in the Oratorical Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the Department Contest must be used in the National Contest. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight minutes or more that ten minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author's name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally. ASSIGNED TOPIC - The Assigned Topic discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic discourse is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. All Contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic. CONTEST REGULATIONS
What to Wear -- Uniforms are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required by all contestants. Contestants are not permitted to wear awards and medals from previous competition.
Travel Expenses -- The Department of California will pay the travel and lodging expenses of Area Winners and their chaperone to the State Contest. All contestants must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21 years of age.
Speaking Order -- A drawing will be held to determine the order in which the contestants will appear. Contestants will be introduced by number only.
Notes or Podium -- The use of notes, amplification, lectern or speakers stand by contestants or prompting in any manner is not permitted. Props are not permitted.
Participation -- Contestants are required to remain in a private room where the discourse of the other speakers cannot be heard until it is their turn to speak.
Assigned Topics for Year 2010-11
Amendment 8
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Amendment 26
Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 27
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
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