We the People
We the People
About We the People
We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution is an instructional program for High School and Middle School students which teaches the history and principles of the American constitutional democracy while enhancing students' understanding of government. Students discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights at the same time. The program is based on materials developed by the Center for Civic Education and is nationally acclaimed by educators. We the People is aligned to the Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies and English Language Arts.
We the People has a built-in authentic performance assessment: simulated congressional hearings. The simulated hearings allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.
Format of Simulated Congressional Hearings
- Students act as expert witnesses and "testify" their constitutional knowledge in the format of simulated congressional hearings. A volunteer judging panel comprised of constitutional scholars, attorneys, and policymakers will evaluate students' responses.
Preparation
- A class is divided into six groups, based on the six units of the curriculum. Each group has 3-6 students, depending on the size of the class
- Each group works collaboratively to prepare answers to all the questions for the unit.
- Students review materials in the We the People textbook and research other materials, preparing a four-minute response to the question for each unit and to get ready to answer follow up questions related to the initial question.
Hearing (10 minutes per question)
- Groups of students orally respond to questions for four minutes (notes can be used)
- The judging panel asks students follow-up questions and students respond (no notes allowed) for six minutes.
- The judging panel members assess the prepared oral presentation and the responses to the follow-up questions using a scoring rubric.
For more information and details about We the People program, please contact Ryan Suskey (rsuskey@oclre.org) or call (614) 485-3506
Costs
| Membership (Optional): | $30 annually |
| Constitution Camp (Optional PD): | $50 - 1 Day |
| High School Registration: |
$55 per team for members $80 per team for non-members |
| Middle School Registration: |
$35 per team for members $80 per team for non-members |
Textbooks
We the People textbooks are available for the elementary, middle, and high school levels to aid in the teaching of the curriculum. Visit store.civiced.org for the full selection of books available, including ordering entire class sets of textbooks.
The We the People textbook is also available in multiple digital formats, including an enhanced e-book. Visit www.civiced.org/resources/publications/ebooks to learn more. For additional information regarding print or e-books, contact the Center for Civic Education at (818) 591-9321
High School We the People State Competition & Invitational
The Ohio Statehouse, host of the 2025 High School We the People State Competition
Competition Forms
Registration Cost
| Member Rate (per class): | Non-Member Rate (per class): |
| $55.00 | $80.00 |
2025 Hearing Questions
State Competition:
- Only classes rostered in the competition are eligible to be the state champion
- The state champion has the opportunity to represent Ohio at the National Finals
- In order to be eligible for the competition, schools/teams must meet rules set forth by the Center for Civic Education, including registering an entire rostered class that has studied all six units of the curriculum
State Invitational:
- Open to any group of students, including groups that have not studied all six units, are not a complete rostered class, or otherwise need accommodation
- While scores are earned, the Invitational is non-competitive and allows students the opportunity to participate without being ranked against other groups/classes
- The Invitational follows the same format and will run concurrently with the state competition
Invitational participants are not eligible to advance to the National Finals.
Ohio Question & Inquiry Design Model (IDM)
In an ongoing effort to better connect We the People to Ohio students through the Ohio state standards, OCLRE writes a question based on the Ohio Constitution. This question is released along with the state hearing questions each fall. The class that scores the highest on the Ohio question at the state competition and invitational will receive the Ohio Constitution Scholar Award.
The 2025 Ohio Question will be rooted in Unit 5, looking at the rights protected by the Bill of Rights. This year’s question revisits a past question considering the right to an education and how it is articulated (or not) in both the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution. To aid in preparing students for this question, OCLRE has created a lesson plan that covers the essential information and primary sources exploring the topic. That lesson plan can be accessed here.
The lesson is set up as an inquiry-based lesson using an Inquiry Design Model (IDM) template. Students will look at an overarching, compelling question with supporting questions to help them garner information to help them answer the compelling question. A variety of primary and secondary sources are provided as a starting point. Formative tasks are built in to check their understanding along the way.
Testimonials
“We the People immerses the student in the content and develops critical thinking skills.” ~ Allison Papish, Strongsville High School
“This is a great experience and easy to incorporate into the curriculum. It allows the students to show off their brains! Parents who see the program are consistently impressed with the event and the support within the community grows.” ~ Andrea Oyer, Archbold High School
“This program allows students to get out of their comfort zone and really put forth the effort to make themselves look and sound presentable and knowledgeable about the U.S. Constitution.” ~ Courtney Reiner, Ayersville High School
“It’s a great authentic assessment and your students will really grow through the process.” ~ Matthew Wunderle, Ravenna High School
Seeing is believing! Teachers are invited to learn more about We the People by observing the state showcase. Contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or (614) 485-3506 for more information
Middle School We the People Showcase
The Ohio Statehouse, host of the 2025 Middle School We the People State Showcase
2025 Hearing Questions
Registration Cost
| Member Rate (per class): | Non-Member Rate (per class): |
| $35.00 | $80.00 |
Testimonials
“You will see your students grow both academically and personally. My students gained a sense of school pride and comradery completing this program.”
~ Jessica Parker, Trotwood-Madison Middle School
“It’s very worthwhile and meaningful. The program has substance and relevance. It teaches concepts that are vital for a thriving republic.”
~ Chris Gutermuth, Sycamore Junior High School
“The conversations you will have and the topics that come up as a result are the fundamentals for teaching and what this country is all about: Knowing about our history, country, and laws are key to a civic citizenry.”
~ Phil Hammer, Sycamore Junior High School
Seeing is believing! Teachers are invited to learn more about We the People by observing the state showcase. Contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or (614) 485-3506 for more information.
FAQ
So what is We the People?
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is a critically acclaimed academic program, administered nationally by the Center for Civic Education and in Ohio by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE). It consists of a curriculum to teach the history, philosophies, evolution, and application of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other founding documents. The program also embeds an authentic assessment, simulated Congressional hearings, to help the students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the content.
How can I learn more about what it is like to teach We the People?
You should attend our Constitution Camp in the fall. This training will give teachers information about content, teaching strategies, and classroom applications for both our Moot Court and We the People programs. If you’re unable to attend Constitution Camp, contact us and we can try to work out something on an individual basis. Additionally, you can use the lessons/resources already available on our website.
Do you offer a more in-depth training to get started in the program?
We offer a professional development each summer. We will announce the location and dates of the training each year in the winter on the Professional Development page. We are happy to schedule individual assistance for you.
What is a simulated Congressional hearing?
The simulated congressional hearing is the authentic assessment that is built into the program. Students are divided into groups which correspond with the units of the textbooks. Each group prepares answers to questions based on the themes of their unit. The groups will answer the question in a four-minute oral presentation. After, students will participate in six minutes of follow-up questions from the judging panel. Watch as P.J. Babb, a teacher at West Carrollton High School, explains the simulated Congressional hearing and how to prepare for it.
Do I need the textbooks to participate?
No, the textbook is not required because all research can be done using outside resources. However, all the questions students are asked in the simulated Congressional hearing are rooted in the We the People textbook. Using the textbook will make it easier to guide the students in their research. Contact the Center for Civic Education to learn more about ordering e-books or printed books.
I don’t want to compete, but I want to give my students the opportunity to participate. What are my options?
You have two options:
1) If you decide not to compete, you can still participate in the non-competitive invitational. This runs concurrent to the state competition and allows schools to participate without being compared to other classes. At the middle school level, the state showcase does not rank students first, second, third, etc., but instead all participants are awarded participatory awards.
2) If you can’t come to the state competition/showcase, you can still do the program in your classroom. Need help setting that up? Contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or call (614) 485-3506 for assistance.
What if I can’t teach all the units? Can I still participate?
Absolutely. Participating in the state showcase or invitational gives teachers the flexibility to teach the units they can get to without overwhelming the students. If you are using the hearing in your classroom, you have the flexibility to adjust to fit your students’ needs.
Are there restrictions on my students or the classes that participate?
If you are participating in the High School State Competition, an entire rostered class needs to participate. If you are participating in the state invitational or showcase, there isn’t a restriction on the make-up of your participating students. It can be an after-school group, pull-out group, partial class, etc.
