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We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution

In December of 2003, the LYC Program of the New York State Bar Association became the New York State Administrator of the We the People Program of the Center for Civic Education.

The primary goal of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students. What makes the program so successful is the design of its instructional program, including its innovative culminating activity. The instructional program enhances students’ understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. At the same time, students discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.

Each year high school We the People classes are invited to participate in the We the People State Hearings. Teams first testify at one of the four Regional Hearings.  Top classes at the regional level attend the state finals. (see dates below)

Important Dates for the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program . . .

CLICK HERE for class roster form - fax to 518.486.1571
CLICK HERE for the state level 2009-10 hearing questions (state level questions used for NY Regionals and State Hearings)
CLICK HERE for hearing resources at Center for Civic Education - rules, registration forms, helpful information

2010 REGIONAL HEARINGS (Teachers: please contact us by Nov. 20, 2009 if you plan to participate or have questions lyc@nysba.org):

Region 1 (Long Island):
January 16, 2010 at Smithtown High School West
Contact: David Scott; patch@northport.k12.ny.us

Region 2 (NYC):
January 7, 2010 at Pace University
Contact: Debra Lesser; dlesser@schools.nyc.gov

Region 3 (Hudson Valley/Upstate):
January 23, 2010 at Albany School of Law
Contact: Mary Miller; mmiller@nynpa.com

Region 4 (Central/Western NY):
TBD
Contact: Deb Taylor; dtaylor@nysba.org

We the People State Finals
March 6, 2010 - tentative
Desmond Hotel
Albany, NY
Contact: Deb Taylor; dtaylor@nysba.org

We the People National Finals
April 24-28, 2010
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
Arlington, VA

We the People District Coordinator Meeting
June 27-29, 2010
Wardman Park Marriott Hotel
Washington, DC

Professional Development  - click here for calendar

Training for teachers is available in a variety of ways:

• In-service sessions/workshops offered in Congressional District or regionally

• In-service sessions/workshops offered through a school district

• Regional/National Summer Institutes

• All professional development sessions are offered at no charge

Textbooks

Teachers can receive free classroom sets of textbooks by attending a training session of not less than three hours in length.  
A classroom set includes 30 student textbooks, a teacher’s guide and an information packet.
Textbooks are available at three levels:

Level I Upper Elementary	Level II Middle School	Level III High School

Congressional District Coordinators
 The We the People Program is coordinated in each Congressional District by a District Coordinator, and each of the four NY Regions also has a Regional Coordinator.   
The Law, Youth & Citizenship Program of the New York State Bar Association has dedicated educators and attorneys that serve as Congressional District Coordinators in our We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program.  Duties include:
·        Recruitment of teachers
·        Assisting with Professional Development
·        Conducting competitive and non-competitive hearings
·        Follow-up with teachers using the program
 
Coordinators receive a base stipend with the opportunity to earn additional funds through a variety of activities. Contact us, lyc@nysba.org, if you would like to be a coordinator.