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American Legion
High School Oratorical Contest |

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.
Post/District/Zone/State Contests
HOW TO ENTER - Just contact
your local American Legion Post for entry into the local or
district contest and complete this
application.
State contestant prizes
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Winner |
$3,400.00 |
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Runners Up |
$1,000.00 |
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The four zone winners will each receive an $800
scholarship, runners up will receive $200.00 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 at the National Contest.
DATES AND LOCATIONS
Post Competitions
(Please
contact your local post for date and times or slong@indlegion.org.)
Post 250 December 1
10:00 am at Mitchell High School
District Competitions
District 1 –
January 6, 2008 hosted by Post 180, 2703 Jewett St Highalnd IN 2:00
p.m. CDT
District 2 –
January 6, 2008 hosted by Post 301, 959 W Indiana Kouts IN 1:00 p.m.
District 3 -
January 6, 2008 hosted by Post 161, 133 E Mishawaka Ave Mishawaka IN
3:00 p.m. EST
District 4 - January 20,
2008 hosted by Post 43, 101 Madison St Decatur IN 46733 1:00 p.m.
EST
District 5 - January 20,
2008 location TBD, 1:00 p.m. EST
District 6 - January 20,
2008 hosted by Post 72, 101 Walter Remley Dr Crawfordsville IN 47933
2:00 pm
District 7 - January 19,
2008 hosted by Post 18, 1800 W 3rd St Bloomington IN 47404 1:00 p.m.
EST
District 8 - January 5,
2008 hosted by South Spencer High School, 1142 N Orchard Rd, Rockport IN
10:00
a.m. Local Time
District 9 -
January 5, 2008 Post 337, 412 Eastern Ave. Sunman IN 47041 10:00 am EST
District 10 - January 6,
2008 hosted by Post 152, 224 E Main St Knightstown IN 46148 2:00
p.m. EST
District 11 – January 6,
2008 hosted by Post 3, 6379 N College Ave Indianapolis IN 46220
1:00 p.m. EST
Zone Competitions
Zone 1 - hosted by 2nd
District, February 10, 2008 Post 301, 959 W Indiana Kouts IN 1:00
p.m.
Zone 2 - hosted by 5th
District at Post 160, 1122 N Main St, Roanoke IN February 10, 2008 1:00 p.m. EST
Zone 3 - hosted by 10th
District and Post 152, February 3, 2008 at Morton Memorial HS in the
Vocational Building, 10892 N SR 140, Knightstown IN
2:00 pm
Zone 4 - hosted by
9th District February
2, 2008 Mitchell High School 10:00 am
State Competition
March 2, 2008 1pm at
the American Legion Department of Indiana, 777 N Meridian 4th floor
DEC room, Indianapolis IN 46204
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 Indiana 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.
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2007-2008 Assigned Topics
Art 1 Sec 3 clause 6
The Senate shall have the sole
Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on
Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief
Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence
of two thirds of the Members present.
Art 1 Sec 6
clause 1
The Senators and
Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be
ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They
shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be
privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their
respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any
Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other
Place.
Art 2 Sec 4
The President,
Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed
from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other
high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Amendment 14 Section 1
All persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of
the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
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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 or her research, and the ability to discuss
the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the
Constitution.
The
Assigned Topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of
the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of
his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each
contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery.
The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United
States, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under
Assigned Topics for the current year's contest.
All
contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English
language on the same Assigned Topic.
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The National Finals Contest will be conducted, April 5-6,
2008, at the Indiana University-Purdue University at
Indianapolis Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis,
Indiana. Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Contests will be held
Saturday, April 5. Championship Contest will be held Sunday,
April 6.
 All
contestants and chaperones will arrive Friday, April 4. 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 4.

A banquet honoring all contestants will be held Sunday
afternoon, April 6.
 All
contestants and chaperones will depart for home late Sunday
afternoon, April 6.
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National scholarships awarded to the
three finalist in the Final Round are as follows:
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First Place |
$18,000.00 |
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Second Place |
$16,000.00 |
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Third Place |
$14,000.00 |
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For More Information Click Here |
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