CONTEST CATEGORIES, RULES & DEADLINES

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

We The Future Contest
Elementary School Students K – 5
Click here for The 2018 Elementary School Rules (Grades K-5)

Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Sign up for the contest here.

Parent/Guardian must read “Constituting America’s Privacy Policy Guidelines and Notice to Parents,” approve of student entering, and “check” parent statement on online form & sign hard copy contest entry form.

Elementary students may submit a Poem or Holiday Card.

Poem subject must be “How do the checks and balances of the Constitution protect our rights?” Student may enter poem online, but MUST include student’s name, age and grade on the poem and include the signed permission/entry form. Electronic submissions of Poems are due by September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “Elementary Poem Entry” See Official Rules Section III for details.

Holiday Card subject must be relevant to the United States Constitution and its importance to the student and the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength,” and depict an original drawing, no bigger than an 8×10 image, in pencil, pen, colors or paint. No Text. All holiday card entries must be mailed to Constituting America, and MUST include the student’s name, age and grade on the back of the drawing along with the signed permission/entry form.

The Holiday Card Contest is proudly named in memory of Conrad Ainslie Bauman (February 26, 2014 – September 23, 2015). See Official Rules Section III for details.

Mailed entries must be postmarked by September 17, 2018 and include two copies of the entry form, with signed parental consent, and student’s name, age and grade must appear on the entry.

Please mail entries to: Constituting America We the Future Contest PO Box 1988, Colleyville, TX 76034

Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules and Regulations,” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
For Elementary Students

Section I – General Rules for Elementary Students (Grades K‐5)
Section II – Qualifications
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards & Prizes
Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Elementary Students (Grades K‐ 5)
From September 18, 2017 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” holiday card and poem contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America (including the District of Columbia), the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The poem topic is: “How do the checks and balances of the Constitution protect our rights?”

The holiday card must relate to the United States Constitution and the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength.”

Instructions for the holiday card and poem are outlined in Section III.

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Signup form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

To enter the poem, the completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and poem entry may be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. Student’s name, age and grade must appear on the poem.

The holiday card entry, along with two copies of the completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent, must be submitted by mail in hard copy form, with student’s name, age and grade on back, to:
Constituting America We The Future Contest
P.O. Box 1988 Colleyville, TX 76034

Entries must be received by email (poem only) by 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 or postmarked (artwork or poem) no later than September 17, 2018.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, the sale of the holiday cards on the Constituting America website, and use of the holiday card language, artwork or any parts thereof on t-shirts or other items for sale on the website, with proceeds benefiting Constituting America.

Section II – Qualifications
The Elementary School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades K-5 and are 5 to 12 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school program and charter schools. Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Holiday Card and Poem Instructions
The Poem subject matter must be: “How do the checks and balances of the Constitution protect our rights?” Poem may be typed or handwritten, and submitted electronically or mailed. If submitted electronically, the poem should be saved as a PDF. Whether submitted electronically or in hard copy form, poem entry MUST include student’s name, age and grade on the poem.

The Holiday Card must depict a drawing that is relevant to the United States Constitution and the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength,” and its importance to the student. The drawing should be no bigger than an 8×10 image, done in pencil, pen, colors or paint. NO TEXT. Two color copies of the holiday card must be submitted by U.S. Mail, may not be submitted electronically, and MUST include the student’s name, age and grade on the back of the drawings.

The Conrad Ainslie Bauman Holiday Card Contest is in Memory of Conrad Ainslie Bauman (February 26, 2014 – September 23, 2015). Although briefly on this earth, Conrad touched the hearts of many and his beautiful spirit lives on. He loved art, and we are proud to name Constituting America’s Holiday Card Contest after him. Born on February 26, 2014, Conrad passed away September 23, 2015 from a very rare form of leukemia, JMML.

All entries must include the signed Entry/Permission Form, available for download on the website. The form should be signed by the parent if the entrant, scanned in and accompany electronic submissions, or 2 copies mailed in with hard copy submissions.

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one
(1) winning poem and one (1) wining holiday card. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III
2. Poem: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form; Holiday card: artistic quality, originality, ability to reproduce, and neatness.

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified in early 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The two elementary school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST POEM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Poem, Elementary School
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Poem, Elementary School
4. $100 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST HOLIDAY CARD – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official holiday card
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Official Holiday card
4. $100 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.

Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.

This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

We The Future Contest
Middle School Students 6 – 8
Click here for the 2018 Middle School Rules (Grades 6-8)

Contest Rules Summary – 2018 Sign up for the contest here.

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.

Middle School Students may submit: Entrepreneurial, Essay, Song, STEM or Still Photography. 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.

Submissions due no later than September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “MIDDLE
SCHOOL (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING HERE) ENTRY” See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions.

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please email entry to: WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com See Official Rules for details

• Essay: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms. Essay must be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age and grad on every page of the essay. If mailing, two copies of the essay and entry form must be included. See Official Rules Section III for details.

• Song: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, 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 background. See Official Rules for details.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. See Official Rules for details.

• Still Photography: “The Constitution as America’s Greatest Strength.” Photo must be no bigger than 8×10 and no smaller than 4×6. All photos must be in JPG format with a minimum of 660 PPI. In addition to submitting photo via email, the student must post the photo on Instagram with hashtags #ConstitutingAmerica #Constitution #WeTheFutureContest and @ConstitutingAmerica. See Official Rules for details.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult official rules for complete instructions.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
for Middle School Students (Grades 6—8)

Section I – General Rules for Middle School Students (Grades 6—8)
Section II – Qualifications
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards and Prizes
Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Middle School Students (Grades 6—8)
From September 18, 2017 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” entrepreneurial, essay, song, STEM and still photography contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The entrepreneurial topic is: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest”

The essay topic is: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms

The song subject is: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights”

STEM subject is: Design applied technology that promotes the U.S. Constitution

The still photography subject is: The Constitution as America’s Greatest Strength

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRY. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Email submission to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

• Essay: The completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and essay entry may be mailed as a PDF to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. Student’s name, age and grade must appear on each page
of the essay.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in background. First line of song description in online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. Must email Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; lyrics and music.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours.

• Still Photography: Submission should be emailed with required Entry/Permission form and JPG photo should include student’s name, age and grade in the filename.

Entries must be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m., September 17, 2018 but may be submitted at any time from November 15, 2017 to September 17, 2018. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song and essay on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications
The Middle School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades 6-8 and are 11 to 15 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school program and charter schools.

Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Entrepreneurial, Essay, Song, STEM, and Still Photography Instructions

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.

1. Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote the “We The Future Contest.” Please focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please submit your marketing plan via email to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

2. Essay Background: The Framers of the Constitution carefully constructed it to protect individual liberty and to restrain the power of the federal government. The Constitution is comprised of seven Articles which define and describe:

• the three branches of the federal government,
• the relationship between the federal government and the states,
• various other aspects of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and its preservation and amendment process.

In recent history, there have been many examples of the Constitution not being followed, as well as many instances of the Constitution being upheld and the separation of powers being enforced as one branch of government acts as a “check” on another branch’s power.

Essay Topic: In your essay, explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, and then:
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being ignored/an example of a branch of government exceeding its constitutional limits, and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.
OR
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being followed/an example of the separation of powers and system of checks and balances working in practice and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

Essay must be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age and grade on every page of the essay. If submitted electronically, essay should be saved as a PDF and submitted via email to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with the subject line: MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRY. If mailing, two copies of the essay and entry form must be included.

3. Song: Theme: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” Choose any of the Bill of Rights’ Ten Amendments to focus on, or the entire Bill of Rights. The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, lyrics and music, written by the student, no longer than 3:20. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. 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 background. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent; YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music, with subject line: MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the song submission.

4. STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. It can be as simple as a random survey of students in your school testing their constitutional knowledge, to something a little more complex like designing an interactive computer game tied to some part of the Constitution or liberties it represents. Or you can construct an app or even a web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. Please email us a summary of your project to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com, with the subject line, and depending on what you have developed/created, we will work with you on the best way to submit your project.

5. Still Photography subject is: “The Constitution as America’s Greatest Strength.” Photo must be no bigger than an 8×10 and no smaller than a 4×6. All photos must be in JPG format with a minimum of 660 PPI. Use student’s name, grade and age as the filename of the JPG. In addition to submitting photo via email, the student must post the photo on Instagram with the hashtags #ConstitutingAmerica #Constitution #WeTheFutureContest and @ConstitutingAmerica. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent and JPG photo must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with the subject line: MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRY

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning entrepreneurial marketing plan, one (1) winning essay, one (1) winning song, one (1) winning STEM, and one (1) winning photograph. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Entrepreneurial: A marketing plan that can be realistically implemented to promote the “We The Future” Contest

3. Essay: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form

4. Song: original song appealing to broad base of youth

5. STEM: originality, and usefulness in aiding students to learn about the U.S. Constitution

6. Photo: creativity, clarity, style, and commercial appeal

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The five middle school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING PLAN – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, Middle School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, Middle School 2018
4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Essay, Middle School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, Middle School 2018
4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Song, Middle School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Song, Middle School 2018
4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, Middle School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, Middle School 2018
4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST PHOTO – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Photo, Middle School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Photo, Middle School 2018
4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.

Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.

This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

HIGH SCHOOLS

We The Future Contest
High School Students 9 – 12

Click here for the 2018 High School Rules (Grades 9-12)

Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Sign up for the contest here.

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: Entrepreneurial, Essay, PSA, Short Film, Song or STEM. 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.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “HIGH SCHOOL (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING) ENTRY” See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please email entry to: WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Essay: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms. Essay must be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. 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, two copies of the essay and entry form must be included. See Official Rules Section III for details.

• Song: Subject is any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, 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 background. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,” and 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 full details.

• PSA: Subject is: “Why Citizens Should Know Their United States Constitution.” It must be 30 or 60 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). See Official Rules Section III for full details.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
for High School Students (Grades 9--12)

Section I – General Rules for High School Students (Grades 9-12)
Section II – Qualifications
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards and Prizes
Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for High School Students (Grades 9-12)
From September 18, 2017 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” entrepreneurial, essay, song, STEM, short film, and PSA contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The entrepreneurial topic is: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest”

The essay topic is: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms

The song subject is: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights”

STEM subject is: Design applied technology that promotes the U.S. Constitution

The short film subject is: Why the United States Constitution is relevant today The PSA subject is: Why citizens should know their United States Constitution

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.comwith subject line: HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Email submission to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

• Essay: The completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and essay may be mailed as a PDF to
WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. Student’s name, age and grade must appear on each page
of the essay.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in background. First line of song description in online submission must read: Submitted
to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. Must email Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; lyrics and music.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours.

• Short Film & PSA: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org the following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Pls. include your name, age, and grade on all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m., September 17, 2018 but may be submitted at any time from November 15, 2017 to September 17, 2018. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, essay, PSA and short film on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications
The High School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades 9-12 and are 14 to 19 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school program and charter schools.

Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Entrepreneurial, Essay, PSA, Short Film, Song, and STEM Instructions
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.

1. Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote the “We The Future Contest.” Please focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please submit your marketing plan via email to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com

2. Essay Background: The Framers of the Constitution carefully constructed it to protect individual liberty and to restrain the power of the federal government. The Constitution is comprised of seven Articles which define and describe:

• the three branches of the federal government,
• the relationship between the federal government and the states,
• various other aspects of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and its preservation and amendment process.

In recent history, there have been many examples of the Constitution not being followed, as well as many instances of the Constitution being upheld and the separation of powers being enforced as one branch of government acts as a “check” on another branch’s power.

Essay Topic: In your essay, explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, and then:
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being ignored/an example of a branch of government exceeding its constitutional limits, and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.
OR
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being followed/an example of the separation of powers and system of checks and balances working in practice and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

Essay must be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age and grade on every page of the essay. If submitted electronically, essay should be saved as a PDF and submitted via email to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with the subject line: HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY. If mailing, two copies of the essay and entry form must be included.

3. Public Service Announcement (PSA) subject is: “Why Citizens Should Know Their United States Constitution.” It must be 30 seconds or 60 seconds in length and must be originally written by the student and recorded. The PSA may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be emailed, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the PSA script.

4. Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the student. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The short film subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film & PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be emailed, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the script.

5. Song: Theme: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” Choose any of the Bill of Rights’ ten amendments to focus on, or the entire Bill of Rights. The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, lyrics and music, written by the student, no longer than 3:20. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. 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 background. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18); YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent, must be emailed, with subject line: HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the song submission.

6. STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. It can be as simple as a random survey of students in your school testing their constitutional knowledge, to something a little more complex like designing an interactive computer game tied to some part of the Constitution or liberties it represents. Or you can construct an app or even a web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. Please email us a summary of your project to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com, with the subject line, and depending on what you have developed/created, we will work with you on the best way to submit your project.

Section IV– Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning entrepreneurial marketing plan, one (1) winning essay, one (1) winning public service announcement, one (1) winning short film, one (1) winning song, and one (1) winning STEM. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Entrepreneurial: A marketing plan that can be realistically implemented to promote the “We The Future” Contest

3. Essay: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form

4. PSA: originality, appeal to high school age group, likeliness to be aired by a television station

5. Short Film: originality, appeal to high school age group.

6. Song: original song appealing to broad base of youth

7. STEM: originality, and usefulness in aiding students to learn about the U.S. Constitution

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The six high school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING PLAN – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, High School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Essay, High School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize

BEST PSA – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School PSA, 2018
2. Television Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best PSA, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Short Film, 2018
2. Television Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split)

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Song, 2018
2. Television Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Song, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, High School 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, High School 2018
4. $1000 Scholarship Prize

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.
Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.
This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

We The Future Contest
College Category
Click here for the 2018 College School Rules (ages 17-24; 12 hours or more)

Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Sign up for the contest here.

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.

College Students may submit: Entrepreneurial, Speech, PSA, Short Film, Song or STEM. 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.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 18, 2018 to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line “COLLEGE (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING) ENTRY” See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please email entry to: WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Speech: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms. Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes and no shorter than 15 minutes, video recorded and uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). Your entry will consist of the link to your speech, a written copy of your speech, and your signed entry form submitted to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Song: Subject is: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, 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 background. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,” and 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 full details.

• PSA: Subject is: “Why Citizens Should Know Their United States Constitution.” It must be 30 or 60 seconds in length, originally written 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). See Official Rules Section III for full details.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
for College Students

Section I – General Rules for College Students
Section II – Qualifications
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards and Prizes
Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for College Students
From September 18, 2017 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” entrepreneurial, speech, song, S T E M , short film and PSA contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The entrepreneurial topic is: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest”

The speech topic is: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms

The song subject is: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights”

STEM subject is: Design applied technology that promotes the U.S. Constitution

The short film subject is: Why the United States Constitution is relevant today The PSA subject is: Why citizens should know their United States Constitution

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: COLLEGE ENTRY. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote “We The Future Contest.” Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Email submission to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

• Speech: Entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or website showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in background. First line of song description in online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. Must email Entry/Permission form and YouTube or Vimeo link, lyrics and music to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

• Short Film & PSA: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Pls include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

• Entries must be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m., September 17, 2018 but may be submitted at any time from November 15, 2017 to September 17, 2018. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, speech, PSA and short film on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications
The College Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students enrolled in a college or university, carrying 12 hours or more, age 17 to 24 years old at the time of entry.

Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Entrepreneurial, Speech, PSA, Short Film, Song, and S T E M Instructions
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.

1. Entrepreneurial: Design a marketing plan to promote the “We The Future Contest.” Please focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Law School/Graduate School, Adult or Senior Citizen. Please submit your marketing plan via email to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

2. Speech Background: The Framers of the Constitution carefully constructed it to protect individual liberty and to restrain the power of the federal government. The Constitution is comprised of seven Articles which define and describe:
• the three branches of the federal government,
• the relationship between the federal government and the states,
• various other aspects of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and its preservation and amendment process.

In recent history, there have been many examples of the Constitution not being followed, as well as many instances of the Constitution being upheld and the separation of powers being enforced as one branch of government acts as a “check” on another branch’s power.

Speech Topic: In your speech, explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, and then:
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being ignored/an example of a branch of government exceeding its constitutional limits, and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.
OR
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being followed/an example of the separation of powers and system of checks and balances working in practice and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes, and no shorter than 15 minutes. Speech entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls. include your name, age, and grade on all pages of your entry package.

3. Public Service Announcement (PSA) subject is: “Why Citizens Should Know Their United States Constitution.” It must be 30 seconds or 60 seconds in length and must be originally written by the student and recorded. The PSA may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be emailed with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line: COLLEGE ENTRY. The student’ s name, grade and age must be on each page of the PSA script.

4. Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the student. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film & PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be emailed, with You Tube or Vimeo link, and script to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: COLLEGE ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the script.

5. Song: Theme: Any aspect of “The Bill of Rights.” Choose any of the Bill of Rights’ Ten Amendments to focus on, or the entire Bill of Rights. The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre, song composition, lyrics and music, written by the student, no longer than 3:20. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. 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 background. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com. Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent, must be emailed, with link, lyrics and music to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: COLLEGE ENTRY. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the song submission.

6. STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. It can be as simple as a random survey of students in your school testing their constitutional knowledge, to something a little more complex like designing an interactive computer came tied to some part of the Constitution or liberties it represents. Or you can construct an app or even a website showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. Please email us a summary of your project to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com, and depending on what you have developed/created, we will work with you on the best way to submit your project.

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning entrepreneurial marketing plan, one (1) winning speech, one (1) winning public service announcement, one (1) winning short film, one (1) winning song, and one (1) winning STEM. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Entrepreneurial: A marketing plan that can be realistically implemented to promote the “We The Future” Contest

3. Speech: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form

4. PSA: originality, appeal to college age group, likeliness to be aired by a television station

5. Short film: originality, appeal to college age group

6. Song: original song appealing to broad base of youth

7. STEM: originality, and usefulness in aiding students to learn about the U.S. Constitution

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The six college winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING PLAN – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, College 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Entrepreneurial Marketing Plan, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SPEECH – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Speech, College 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Speech, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize

BEST PSA – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College PSA, 2018
2. Television Appearances(to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best PSA, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College Short Film, 2018
2. Television Appearances(to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College Song, 2018
2. Television Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Song, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, College 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, College 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.
Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.
This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

LAW SCHOOL & GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS

We The Future Contest
Graduate and Law School Students

Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Click here for PDF downloadable version.

Must be enrolled in a graduate school or law school, carrying 9 hours or more, seeking a graduate or law degree, age 18 and above.

Sign up for the contest here.

Graduate and Law School Students may submit a Short Film or Speech. 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.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “GRADUATE/LAW SCHOOL (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING) ENTRY”

See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions:

• Speech: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms. Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes and no shorter than 15 minutes, video recorded and uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). Your entry will consist of the link to your speech, a written copy of your speech, and your signed entry form submitted to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,” and 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. Short film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for full details.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
for Graduate and Law School Students

Section I – General Rules: Grad/Law Students
Section II – Qualifications
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards and Prizes
Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Graduate and Law School Students
From September 19, 2017 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” speech and short film contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The speech topic is: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms.

The short film subject is: Why the United States Constitution is relevant today.

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: GRADUATE/LAW SCHOOL (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING) ENTRY. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Speech: Entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

• Short Film: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Pls include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m., September 17, 2018 but may be submitted at any time from November 15, 2017 to September 18, 2018. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, speech, PSA and short film on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications
The Graduate/Law School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students enrolled in a graduate school or law school, carrying 9 hours or more, seeking a graduate or law degree, age 18 and above at the time of entry.

Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Speech and Short Film Instructions
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.

1. Speech Background: The Framers of the Constitution carefully constructed it to protect individual liberty and to restrain the power of the federal government. The Constitution is comprised of seven Articles which define and describe:
• the three branches of the federal government,
• the relationship between the federal government and the states,
• various other aspects of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and its preservation and amendment process.

In recent history, there have been many examples of the Constitution not being followed, as well as many instances of the Constitution being upheld and the separation of powers being enforced as one branch of government acts as a “check” on another branch’s power.

Speech Topic: In your speech, explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, and then:
• describe one recent example of the Constitution being ignored/an example of a branch of government exceeding its constitutional limits, and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

OR

• describe one recent example of the Constitution being followed/an example of the separation of powers and system of checks and balances working in practice and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes, and no shorter than 15 minutes. Speech entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls. include your name, age, and grade on all pages of your entry package.

2. Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the student. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film & PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent must be emailed, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line: GRADUATE/LAW SCHOOL ENTRY (INSERT CATEGORY ENTERING). The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the script.

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning speech, and one (1) winning short film. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Speech: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form, level of support generated for your cause

3. Short film: originality, appeal to college age group.

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The two graduate/law school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST SPEECH – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Speech, Graduate/Law School, 2018
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Speech, Graduate/Law School, 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America Graduate/Law School Short Film, 2018
2. Television Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, Graduate/Law School, 2018
4. $2000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split)

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.
Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.
This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein

NEW: TEACHER CATEGORY

We The Future Contest Teachers K-12 –
Teaching the U.S. Constitution Lesson

Click here for the 2018 NEW Teacher Lesson Plan Category Rules (open to teachers K-12)

Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Sign up for the contest here.

Teachers, kindergarten through 12th grades, are eligible to sign up for this category.

K12 Teachers are invited to enter U.S. Constitution lesson plan in the We The Future Contest.

One entry per person. 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.

Lesson Plan: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter: Examples: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators. Please email entry to: WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com. See Official Rules Section III for instructions and guidelines.

Electronic Submissions due by 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “TEACHER ENTRY”

The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries.

The above rules are a summary only.

Please consult “Official Rules and Regulations,” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We The Future Contest Sign-Up Form
Lesson Plan Contest, Teachers K-12

1. Name

2. Date of Birth

3. Male / Female

4. Address

City State Zip

5. Telephone

6. E-Mail

7. School Name School City

8. Grade Level of Lesson Plan

9. Agree to rules (signature required)

The lesson plan MAY be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com
THIS entry form signed by entrant, must accompany all entries, whether mailed or emailed.

For email submissions, please scan in a copy of this signed form.

Please see Contest Rules for more details.

Signing up online does not replace the requirement to submit this form with your entry.

CONSTITUTING AMERICA LESSON PLAN ENTRY MAILING ADDRESS
Constituting America ATTN: We The Future Contest PO Box 1988 Colleyville, TX 76034

**Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries. Please see Contest Rules for more details.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
Effective September 19, 2017 – September 17, 2018
For Teachers, K-12

Section I – General Rules for Teachers, K-12
Section II – Qualification
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards & Prizes
Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Teachers, K-12
From September 19, 2018 to September 17, 2018 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” lesson plan contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The lesson plan subject is: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Guidelines for the lesson plan are outlined in Section III.

To enter, teacher entrants are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the
contest. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to all signing up for the contest in advance.

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.

Electronic Submissions due by 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line: TEACHER ENTRY

Lesson Plan: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter. Examples: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators. Please email entry to: WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com.

Entries must be received by email by 11:59p.m., September 17, 2018. As further detailed in Section VII entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per entrant is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant hereby grants Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the lesson plan on the Constituting America website, and putting it on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest.

Section II – Qualifications
The Lesson Plan Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are kindergarten through 12th grade teachers. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators.

Section III – Short Film Instructions
The Lesson Plan: Should be original, written by the entrant. Length is flexible. The subject of the lesson plan is a lesson that teaches the United States Constitution to students. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter. Examples: Teachers of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. The completed Entry/Permission form must be emailed to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line: TEACHER ENTRY. The entrant’s name must be on each page of the lesson plan.

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions that comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one winning lesson plan. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Lesson plan: originality, appeal to students, educational value

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018.

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winner must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winner will receive:

BEST LESSON PLAN – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website
2. Public Appearances (to be determined)
3. Certificate for winning Best Lesson Plan, Teacher Category, 2018
4. $2000 Cash Prize

All entrants are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy
Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy is posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant hereby agrees and acknowledges the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, adults, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer
Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating an entrant’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no entrant or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.

Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy
Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV.

This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

NEW: SHORT FILM CATEGORY

We The Future Contest
Adults, Ages 25 & up
Click here for the 2018 NEW Short Film Category Rules (open to adults ages 25 & up)

Short Film Contest Rules Summary – 2018

Adults, ages 25 and up, are eligible to sign up for this category.

Sign up for the contest here.

Adults are invited to enter a short film in the We The Future Contest.

One entry per person. 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.

Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,”
and must be an original film written and directed by the entrant. Up to two entrants may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length.

Electronic Submissions due by 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018, to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line “ADULT 25 AND UP ENTRY”

Film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2018 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; and a copy of the script. Entrant’s name and age must appear on the entry and all pages of the entry package. See Official Rules Section III for details.

The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries.

The above rules are a summary only.
Please consult “Official Rules and Regulations,” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We the Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations
Effective September 19, 2017 – September 18, 2018
For Adults, Age 25 & Up

Section I – General Rules for Adults, Age 25 & Up
Section II – Qualification
Section III – Instructions
Section IV – Judging Process
Section V – Awards & Prizes
Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy
Section VII – Disclaimer
Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Adults, Age 25 & Up
From September 17, 2016 to September 17, 2017 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We the Future” short film contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The short film subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today.” Guidelines for the short film are outlined in Section III.

To enter, adult entrants are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign‐up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to all signing up for the contest in advance.

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.

Electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2018 to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com with subject line: ADULT 25 AND UP ENTRY

Film: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org The following must be emailed to WeTheFuture2018@yahoo.com: Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; and a copy of the script. Student’s name and age must appear on the entry, and all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received by email by 11:59p.m., September 17, 2018. As further detailed in Section VII entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per entrant is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant hereby grants Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the short film on the Constituting America website, and putting it on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest.

Section II – Qualifications
The Short Film Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are 25 years or older.

Section III – Short Film Instructions
Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the entrant. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The short film subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2017 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent, must be emailed, with link, and script to WeTheFuture2017@yahoo.com with subject line: ADULT 25 AND UP ENTRY. The entrant’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the short film script.

Section IV – Judging Process
After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions that comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one winning short film. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Short film: originality, appeal to adults, educational value

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified sometime after September 17, 2018

Section V – Awards and Prizes
The winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winner must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winner will receive:

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen
1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website.
2. Television Appearances (to be determined).
3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, Adult Category, 2018.