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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. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend
an educational institution within the department (state) where they
enter competition. Contestants can enter competition in only one
department. The three finalists of the national contest will be
ineligible for further participation at any level.
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 or district chairman for date and times.)
District Competitions
1st District -
2nd District –
3rd District –
4th District –
5th District –
6th District –
7th District –
8th District –
9th District –
10th District –
11th
District –
Zone Competitions
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
State Competition
March 8, 2009 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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2009-2010 Assigned Topics
Article 4 Section 3 Para 1
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
Article 5
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Amendment 5
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment 6
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
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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.
The National
Finals Contest
will be
conducted, April
9-11, 2010, at
the Indiana
University-Purdue
University at
Indianapolis
Conference
Center & Hotel,
Indianapolis,
Indiana.
Quarter-Final
and Semi-Final
Contests will be
held Saturday,
April 10.
Championship
Contest will be
held Sunday,
April 11. All
contestants and
chaperones will
arrive Friday,
April 9. 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
9.
A banquet
honoring all
contestants will
be held Sunday
afternoon, April
11.
All
contestants and
chaperones will
depart for home
late Sunday
afternoon, April
11.
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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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