THE
AMERICAN
LEGION
HIGH SCHOOL
ORATORICAL
CONTEST
2007-2008
RULES & REGULATIONS
A Competitive
Americanism Program
of
The Indiana American Legion
*****
Approved by
The Indiana Department of
Public Instruction
and
The National Association of
Secondary School Principals
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the American Legion State Oratorical Contest are to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Constitution of the United States on the part of Indiana high school students; to give each participating student an opportunity to utilize this knowledge in an atmosphere of competitive public speaking; and to offer students an avenue to obtain scholarship awards to assist them in pursuing a college education.
ELIGIBILITY
The American Legion State Oratorical Contest is open to any student who is enrolled in classes equivalent to the regular 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades. All students must be under twenty (20) years of age. All students must be enrolled in an Indiana high school during any and all levels of participation in this contest. All contestants must be a citizen of the United States.
RULES
1. The subject to be used in the Oratorical Contest must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the duties and obligations of a citizen of our Government.
2. At the zone level and state finals of oratorical competition, a contestant will be required to deliver an 8-10 minute prepared oration and a 3-5 minute assigned topic oration. The assigned topic portion of the oratorical contest will not be required at the district level of competition only.
3. The prepared oration must be an original work of the contestant’s own efforts. Plagiarism will be grounds for disqualification by contest judges.
4. The subject of the assigned topic will be chosen from a field of topics of the United States Constitution; the areas of which are outlined in this pamphlet. This group of assigned topics will be drawn from at those levels of competition, where an assigned topic oration is required.
5. At any oratorical contest, only one assigned topic will be drawn from the field and each contestant will speak on the same chosen topic. Five (5) minutes will be allowed to each contestant for preparation.
6. A contestant will not be allowed the use of a podium, amplification equipment, props, prompting or notes during his or her oration. This applies to both the prepared and assigned topic portions of the contest.
7. In the delivery of both a prepared and assigned topic oration, quotations must be indicated as such. For quotations which are more than ten words in length, the author’s name must be given.
8. Penalty points will be assessed for orations which finish over or under the time limit allowed, or for those orations judged as not relating to the United States Constitution.
JUDGING
The judging of a contestant in any level or oratorical competition will be done by a panel of selected judges, to be no less than three, who are selected from fields of public speaking, education, law, media and other degreed professionals. The contestants are judged in a number of areas related to an oration such as logic, knowledge of the subject matter, voice, style, dictation, etc.
CONDUCT OF CONTEST
At any level of oratorical competition within the state of Indiana, the contest is under the supervision of a contest chairman, who has the responsibility of seeing that the contest is held in accordance with The American Legion state and national oratorical rules. At any level of oratorical competition in the interest of fairness, the contestants are never allowed to hear the other contestants’ orations. The contestants deliver their oration one at a time while the other contestants are being held in a sound proof or isolated room away from the contest stage, so that a speaker may know the length of the oration while it is being delivered, timekeepers will hold up cards during the prepared oration after 8, 9, and 10 minutes have elapsed. During the assigned topic portion, cards will be held up after 3, 4, and 5 minutes have elapsed.
COMPETITION LEVELS
The American Legion Oratorical Contest consists of a series of four competitive levels. They are:
1. Local high school contest to determine the representative from that school.
2. District Contests which determine the representative to advance to the next level of competition.
3.Zone Contests will determine the four state finalists.
4. The 2007-2008 American Legion State Oratorical State Finals, held at the American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis at 1:00 P.M., Sunday, March 2, 2008.
The state oratorical champion of Indiana will automatically advance into National American Legion competition, leading to The National American Legion Oratorical Championship, and a chance for up to $20,000 in scholarships.
CONTEST AWARDS
The winners of the four Zone Contests receive an $800.00 scholarship. The state champion receives a $3,400.00 scholarship and plaque. The three state finalists receive a $1000.00 scholarship and plaque.
CERTIFICATION
If a school wishes to enter a contestant in the American Legion State Oratorical Contest, school officials must fill out and sign the “Certification of High School Representative” form included in this brochure. One representative per American Legion Post is allowed. Example, if there are three Posts in a school district, three students may be represented from that school, if all three Posts sponsor a student.
CONTEST DEADLINES
In order for a school to have a contestant in The American Legion State Oratorical Contest, that school may hold a contest to determine the winner. The certification form must be received at The American Legion State Headquarters no later than December 7, 2007. Any entries received after the deadline will not be allowed to compete in the contest.
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 recieve 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 Sction 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.
AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA ORATORICAL CONTEST CERTIFICATION FORM
NAME ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
DATE OF BIRTH AGE SEX TELEPHONE
POST SPONSOR DISTRICT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF HIGH SCHOOL
CERTIFICATION SIGNATURES
PRINCIPAL FACULTY SPONSOR
POST SPONSOR Number of participants in School Contest
APPLICATION MUST BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY AND MAILED TO:
The American Legion, Department of Indiana, ATTN: Oratorical Contest
777 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
CERTIFICATION DEADLINE IS: DECEMBER 7, 2007