Nebraska State Bar Foundation

Early in January 2015, the Bar Foundation is sponsoring We the People:  The Citizen and the Constitution State Championship in Lincoln.  The Foundation is accepting contributions to help defray the cost of providing meals for the students and their volunteer teacher coaches as well as for general operations of the tournament.  The competition will take place at the University of Nebraska College of Law.

We the People is a nationally acclaimed civics program supported by the Center for Civic Education and administered by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.  Participants in the competition present a simulated congressional hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of volunteer judges.

Volunteers include high school and college educators and administrators and attorneys.  Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.  The program aligns with several Nebraska Social Studies Standards.  The winning team will represent Nebraska at the National Championship in Washington, DC, in April 2015.

In addition to the We the People program, the Bar Foundation sponsors other Law-Related Education programs to help promote civic education in our schools.  The programs include:

• Nebraska High School Mock Trial
• Reaching the Age of Majority Booklet
• Law Day Essay Contest for Grades 9-12
• Constitution Day Lessons and Activities
• You the Juror, and Orientation Video

Annually, more than 600 volunteers give of their time and talents to make these programs possible.  The Bar Foundation acknowledges its debt of gratitude to these individuals who help our youth better appreciate the freedoms we enjoy through the rule of law.

Learn more about the We the People:  The Citizen and the Constitution by visiting the Bar Foundation's web page, http://www.nebarfnd.org/we-the-people, or visit the web page of the Center for Civic Education at http://www.civiced.org/programs/wtp.