Submissions must be entirely the original work of the students, without any assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Entries will be analyzed by third party software.
Parent/Guardian must read “Constituting America’s Privacy Policy Guidelines and Notice to Parents,” approve of student entering, “check” parent statement on online form & sign hard copy contest entry form.
High School Students may submit the following: Essay, Song, STEM, Short film, Social Media Video, or PSA. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.
The winner will also be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip tentatively scheduled for September 2025 (all costs fully covered).
Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions
Essay:
Please choose from the following prompts.
Option 1: Write a 500-700 word essay on the different powers vested in our three branches of government and why checks and balances, as guaranteed by our Constitution, is vital to the preservation of our government. Are there examples (recent or historical) of violations of these checks and balances?
Option 2: Recognizing our form of government is a Republic, write a 500-700 word essay on how our First Amendment (RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) rights enable the citizens to influence the laws of our country or initiate a constitutional amendment and, in so doing, prevent the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat).” Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age, and grade on every page of the essay. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included. See Official Rules Section III for details.
Song:
Please choose from one of the following prompts below.
- The Relevancy of the U.S. Constitution. This could include:
- The significance and necessity of the U.S. Constitution, highlighting how it has protected our freedom throughout our history and why we need it in the future.
- What the Constitution Means to Me.
- Religious Freedom.
The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre song composition with lyrics and music written by the student, no longer than 3:20. Song submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and must include a video recording of the performance or a still photo with audio in the background. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. See Official Rules Section III for details.
STEM:
Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smartphone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.
Short film: How does the Constitution make America and Americans’ way of life unique as compared to other countries? Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length. See Official Rules Section III for details.
Social Media Video (60-second maximum): (1) Please create a 60-second maximum video (Instagram reel, YouTube short, etc) that represents how the First Amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video. Social Media Video submissions should be uploaded as 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for details.
PSA:
The PSA subject is: (1) Please a commercial suitable for airing on radio or TV that is no longer than 25 seconds, choosing one of the following prompts:
- Why should citizens know their Constitution?
- Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today?
It must be 25 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the PSA. PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), “black to black.” See Official Rules Section III for details.
How to Apply:
Awards Available: 5
Award Deadline: May 31, 2025