The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
"A Constitutional Speech Contest"
Department of California

SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 2009

The following items will be stressed in the 2009 Oratorical Scholarship Program:  Study thoroughly, any violation may result in the disqualification of a contestant at any level of the contest; these decisions are the result of much thought and discussion before adoption by the Department Oratorical Commission planning the 2009 competition.

• All contests above the Area level will be conducted in full compliance with the National Rules as outlined in the  2008-2009 brochure.
   
  EXCEPTIONS
• Subject matter of the Prepared Oration must be an original, pertain to a phase of the Constitution of the United States of America and/or the Amendments thereto, and to satisfy the judges as to it’s emphasis to the ATTENDANCE DUTIES OBLIGATIONS OF A CITIZEN TO BASIC AMERICAN PRINCIPLES AND IDEOLOGY.
• All contestants are required to sign a loyalty pledge prior to participation, in accordance with Resolution No. 67-504, adopted June 25-28, 1967 at the San Diego Department Convention.
• Competent, Mature Judges are a necessity – The commission recommends not less than (5) judges at all contest levels.  Names of judges should not be made public until after the contest.  Judges qualifications for Oratorical Contests are as follows:
• Teachers of public address in secondary schools, junior college or colleges well versed in the principles and ideals of the Constitution.
• Other professionals or lay people such as educators, attorneys, court judges, superintendents and principals of schools, toastmasters, toast mistresses and professional administrators who have the equivalent qualifications or experience.