We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, is a yearly competition involving high school students from throughout the United States. The national finals simulates a congressional hearing and is held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia, and in congressional hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. Each class is divided into six units, each composed of three to six students. Each unit focuses on a particular area of Constitutional interest - from the philosophical underpinnings and Constitutional Convention to the Bill of Rights and modern day implications. Students are judged on criteria such as their understanding, reasoning, responsiveness, and use of constitutional applications.

In preparation for the national finals, classes learn about government and study the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In each class the six unit groups prepare four-minute opening statements in response to three congressional hearing questions. Afterwards, judges ask students follow-up questions to test the depth of their knowledge on the topic in a six-minute question and answer period. During the national finals over 1,200 students from 56 classes testify before a total of 72 judges, in panels of three. The judges are history, political science, law, and education professors, members of the legal community, and others with a knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

To qualify for the national finals, a class must win its state championship or qualify as a "wild card" class. The national finals takes place over three days, with the top twelve classes from the first two days advancing to the final round of competition in hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. At the national finals, each unit testifies on two hearing questions during the first two days of competition. The classes with the twelve highest combined scores advance to the final round on the third day. The top twelve places are determined by combining the scores from the first two days and a weighted final round score. Each year nearly $2,000,000 is raised in communities throughout the United States to support the national finals.

According to the Center for Civic Education, "Since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, more than 28 million students and 90 thousand educators have participated in the program and more than 30,000 students have participated in the national finals."

2023 results
The 2023 national competition was held in person for the first time since 2019

 National Winners 

1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

3rd Place: California - Foothill High School - Pleasanton

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

5th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa

6th Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Lincoln High School - Portland

7th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

8th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull

9th Place: California (Wild Card) - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

10th Place: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa

 Division Winners 

Division A: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers

Division B: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S. Freeman High School - Henrico

Division C: Nevada (Wild Card) - Reno High School - Reno

Division D: Nevada - Edward C. Reed High School - Sparks

 Unit Awards 

Unit 1: Connecticut (Wild Card) - Staples High School - Wesport

Unit 2: Michigan - East Kentwood High School - Kentwood

Unit 3: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton

Unit 4: North Carolina - Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh

Unit 5: Kentucky - Highlands High School - Fort Thomas

Unit 6: Arizona (Wild Card) - Hamilton High School - Chandler

2022 results
The 2022 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 National Winners 

1st Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

2nd Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers

3rd Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton

5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

6th Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

7th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

8th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

9th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa

10th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull

11th Place: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton

12th Place: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno

 Division Winners 

Division A: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge

Division B: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills

Division C: Oregon (Wild Card) - Central Catholic High School - Portland

Division D: Wyoming - Sheridan High School - Sheridan

 Unit Awards 

Unit 1: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids

Unit 2: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa

Unit 3: New Hampshire - Milford High School - Milford

Unit 4: Nevada (Wild Card) - West Career and Technical Academy - Las Vegas

Unit 5: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick

Unit 6: Utah - Green Canyon High School & Sky View High School - North Logan & Smithfield

2021 results
The 2021 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 National Winners 

1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

3rd Place: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa

5th Place: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa

6th Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton

7th Place: California - Irvington High School - Fremont

8th Place: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School - Incline Village

9th Place: Connecticut (Wild Card) - Trumbull High School - Trumbull

10th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

11th Place: Indiana - Hamilton Southeastern High School - Fishers

12th Place: Arizona (Wild Card) - Hamilton High School - Chandler

 Division Winners 

Division A: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton

Division B: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids

Division C: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa

Division D: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

 Unit Awards 

Unit 1: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick

Unit 2: Nebraska - Lincoln East High School - Lincoln

Unit 3: Oregon (Wild Card) - Cleveland High School - Portland

Unit 4: Connecticut - Staples High School - Westport

Unit 5: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills

Unit 6: North Carolina - Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh

==2020 results ==

The 2020 national competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 National Winners 

1st Place: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton

2nd Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland

3rd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

 Division Winners 

Best team that did not place in the top 3, from each of 4 regions

Division A: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills

Division B: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

Division C: Connecticut - Staples High School - Westport

Division D: Nevada - Reno High School - Reno

 Unit Awards 

Highest unit scores from schools that were not national winners nor division winners.

Unit 1: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

Unit 2: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick

Unit 3: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School

Unit 4: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland

Unit 5: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge

Unit 6: Montana - Laurel High School - Laurel

==2019 results ==

 National Winners 

1st Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

2nd Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland

5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

6th Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico

7th Place: Indiana - Hamilton Southeastern High School - Fishers

8th Place: Indiana (Wild Card) - Fishers High School - Fishers

9th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

10th Place: Michigan (Wild card) - Black River Public School - Holland

 Unit Awards 

Highest unit scores from schools that were not national winners nor division winners.

Unit 1: Utah - Sky View High School/Green Canyon High School - Smithfield

Unit 2: Massachusetts - Easthampton High School - Easthampton

Unit 3: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge

Unit 4: Nevada (Wild Card) - Incline High School - Incline Village

Unit 5: Wisconsin (Wild Card) - Wauwatosa East High School - Wauwatosa

Unit 6: Arizona - Mountain View High School - Mesa

2018 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

2nd Place: California (Wild Card) - Foothill High School - Pleasanton

3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Lincoln High School - Portland

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

6th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

7th Place: Washington - Tahoma High School - Maple Valley

8th Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers

9th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge

10th Place: Wisconsin - Wauwatosa West High School - Wauwatosa

==2017 results ==

 National Winners 

1st Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

2nd Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

3rd Place: Indiana - Cathedral High School - Indianapolis

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Indiana (Wild Card) - Plainfield High School - Plainfield

5th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

6th Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S. Freeman High School - Henrico

7th Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

8th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills

9th Place: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - East Grand Rapids

10th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School - Park Ridge

==2016 results ==

 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon - Lincoln High School - Portland

2nd Place: Colorado - Denver East High School - Denver

3rd Place: Oregon (Wild Card) - Grant High School - Portland

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills

5th Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies - Richmond

6th Place: Indiana - Fishers High School - Fishers

7th Place: California - Arcadia High School - Arcadia

8th Place: Connecticut - Trumbull High School - Trumbull

9th Place: Washington - Tahoma Senior High School - Covington

10th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick

2015 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon - Grant High School - Portland

2nd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School - Richmond

3rd Place: Virginia (Wild Card) - Douglas S Freeman High School - Henrico

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Washington - Tahoma Senior High School- Covington

5th Place: Alabama - Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills

6th Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

7th Place: Nevada - Edward C. Reed High School- Sparks

8th Place: Michigan - East Grand Rapids High School - Grand Rapids

9th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School - East Brunswick

10th Place: Indiana - Munster High School - Munster

 Unit Awards 

Unit 2: Wisconsin- Wauwatosa West High School- Wauwatosa

Unit 4: California- Arcadia High School- Arcadia

Unit 5: Arizona - Corona del Sol High School - Tempe

2014 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon -Lincoln High School - Portland

2nd Place: California - Amador Valley High School - Pleasanton

3rd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School - Richmond

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Indiana- Fishers High School- Fishers

5th Place: Alabama- Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills

6th Place: Michigan- East Grand Rapids High School- Grand Rapids

7th Place: Colorado- Grandview High School- Aurora

8th Place: Illinois- Maine South High School- Park Ridge

9th Place: Arizona- Corona del Sol- Tempe

10th Place: New Mexico- Highland High School- Albuquerque

 Unit Awards 

Unit 2: Wisconsin- Wauwatosa West High School- Wauwatosa Unit 3: New Jersey- East Brunswick High School- East Brunswick

2013 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon-Grant High School-Portland

2nd Place: California- Amador Valley High School-Pleasanton

3rd Place: Colorado-Denver East High School-Denver

 Honorable Mentions 

4th Place: Alabama- Vestavia Hills High School- Vestavia Hills

5th Place: Indiana- Cathedral High School- Indianapolis

6th Place: Arizona- Corona del Sol High School- Tempe

7th Place: Washington- Tahoma Senior High School- Covington

8th Place: Connecticut- Trumbull High School- Trumbull

9th Place: Illinois- Maine South High School- Park Ridge

10th Place: Indiana (Wild Card)- Plainfield High School- Plainfield

2012 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Oregon-Lincoln High School-Portland

2nd Place: Virginia - Maggie L. Walker Governor's School

3rd Place: California - Arcadia High School-Arcadia

4th Place: New Jersey - East Brunswick High School

5th Place: Indiana - Munster High School

9th Place: North Carolina - Northwest Guilford High School

10th Place: Illinois - Maine South High School

2011 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: Virginia Maggie L. Walker Governor's School

2nd Place: California Amador Valley High School

3rd Place: New Jersey East Brunswick High School

 Honorable Mention 

(top ten)

4th Place: Alabama Vestavia Hills High School

5th Place: Michigan East Grand Rapids High School

6th Place: Colorado

7th Place: Oregon

8th Place: North Carolina

9th Place: Illinois

10th Place: Indiana Munster High School

 Unit Awards 

Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition

Unit 1: Missouri

Unit 2: Rhode Island

Unit 3: South Dakota

Unit 4: New York

Unit 5: Washington

Unit 6: Kansas

 Regional Awards 

Best non-finalist team from each region

Western States: Alaska

Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico

Central States: Kentucky

Southeastern States: South Carolina

Northeastern States: Connecticut

2010 results
 National Winners 

1st Place: California - Arcadia High School (Arcadia, California)

2nd Place: Alabama

3rd Place: Virginia

 Honorable Mention 

(top ten)

4th Place: Oregon

5th Place: Colorado

6th Place: New Jersey

7th Place: Florida

8th Place: Indiana

9th Place: Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Missouri

10th Place: Wisconsin

 Unit Awards 

Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition

Unit 1: Utah

Unit 2: Connecticut

Unit 3: Arizona

Unit 4: Vermont

Unit 5: Washington

Unit 6: Alaska

 Regional Awards 

Best non-finalist team from each region

Western States: Nevada

Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico

Central States: Michigan

Southeastern States: North Carolina

Northeastern States: New York

2009 results
 National Winners' Awards 

1st Place: Colorado

2nd Place: Alabama

3rd Place: California

 Honorable Mention 

(top ten)

4th Place: Virginia

New Jersey

Indiana

Florida

Oregon

Michigan

Connecticut

 Unit Awards 

Best non-finalist team for expertise in each unit of competition

Unit 1: Nevada

Unit 2: New York

Unit 3: New Hampshire

Unit 4: Alaska

Unit 5: Wisconsin

Unit 6: Texas

 Regional Awards 

Best non-finalist team from each region

Western States: Arizona

Mountains/Plains States: New Mexico

Central States: Missouri

Southeastern States: North Carolina

Northeastern States: Vermont

2012 National Competition

 * 1st: Lincoln High School, Portland, Oregon
 * 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
 * 3rd: Arcadia High School, Arcadia, California

2011 National Competition

 * 1st: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
 * 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
 * 3rd: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey

2010 National Competition

 * 1st: Arcadia High School, Arcadia, California
 * 2nd: Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
 * 3rd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia

2009 National Competition

 * 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
 * 2nd: Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
 * 3rd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California

2008 National Competition

 * 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
 * 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
 * 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

2007 National Competition

 * 1st: East High School, Denver, Colorado
 * 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
 * 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

2006 National Competition

 * 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
 * 2nd: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California
 * 3rd: East High School, Denver, Colorado

2005 National Competition

 * 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
 * 2nd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon
 * 3rd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia

2004 National Competition

 * 1st: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey
 * 2nd: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
 * 3rd: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

2003 National Competition

 * 1st: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Richmond, Virginia
 * 2nd: Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, Florida
 * 3rd: East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey

National Champions
 * 2002 Dobson High School, Mesa, Arizona
 * 2001 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami Florida
 * 2000 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami Florida
 * 1999 Maine South High School, Park Ridge, Illinois
 * 1998 East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, NJ
 * 1997 Our Lady of Lourdes, Miami, FL
 * 1996 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
 * 1995 Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA
 * 1994 Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, FL
 * 1993 Arcadia High School, Arcadia, CA
 * 1992 East High School, Denver, CO
 * 1991 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
 * 1990 Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
 * 1989 Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, NE
 * 1988 Gompers Secondary School, San Diego, CA