STATE AND NATIONAL CONTEST SCHEDULEDepartment of California State Finals Contest - Date of 2009 State Contest: February 22, 2009
- Location: City of Modesto Council Chambers - Starting promptly at 1:00 p.m.
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 - The National Finals Contest will be conducted, April 17-19, 2009 at the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Contests will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009.
Championship Contest will be held Sunday, April 19, 2009. - All contestants and chaperones will arrive Friday, April 17, 2009. All contestants and chaperones will be lodged at the IUPUI Conference Center Hotel, 850 West Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
- A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will be held Friday evening, April 17, 2009.
- A banquet honoring all contestants will be held Sunday afternoon, April 19, 2009.
- All contestants and chaperones will depart for home late Sunday afternoon, April 19, 2009.
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 $4,600 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 | Runners Up | $600.00 |
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District contestants competing in the preliminary round who do not advance to the State finals may receive a $100.00 scholarship. 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 2008-09
Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment 3
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment 4
The right of the people to be secure in the persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article 3, Section 3
Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. |
