General Information
The purpose of The American Legion's Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Eligibility
Eligible participants shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States. All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of twenty (20) years on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. The three finalists of the National Contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.

The Oration
The subject to be used for the Prepared Oration in the Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The delivery must not consume less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes. The same subject and oration used in the Department Contest must be used in the National Contest.
In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic Discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author's name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally, delivered in the English language.

Assigned Topic
The Assigned Topic Discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic Discourse is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. This topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year's contest. The topic must be delivered in the English language.

ORATORICAL CONTEST AWARDS

District Level 1st Place $200 Savings Bond
2nd Place $100 Savings Bond
3rd Place $50 Savings Bond

Department Level 1st Place $500 Scholarship – two part scholarship
2nd Place $400 Savings Bond
3rd Place $200 Savings Bond

National Contest
$1500 Scholarship – to the Department Contestant advancing to the National Contest
$1500 Scholarship – to each winner who advances though the sectionals

Finalists
1st Place $18,000 Scholarship
2nd Place $16,000 Scholarship
3rd Place $14,000 Scholarship

· Department pays for all district awards.
· All Savings Bonds are values at maturity
· National Headquarters pays travel expenses for each department contestant and their chaperone.

Oratorical Information
Contact:
Barbara Eastridge, Chairman
4040 S. Oak St.
Casper 82601

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