We the People:

The Citizen and the Constitution 
 

The nationally acclaimed program about the history and philosophy of the civic education

regarding the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. 
 

Overview 

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.  The design of the instructional program, including its innovative culminating activity, makes the program successful with both teachers and students. 
 

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.   

Since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, textbooks have been used in Washington State by thousands of educators.  The program enjoys the active participation of members of Congress, as well as support from hundreds of educational, professional, business, and community organizations across the nation.  
 

Curriculum  
 

The foundation of the We the People program is the classroom curriculum.  This program complements the regular school curriculum by providing upper elementary, middle, and high school students with an innovative course of instruction on the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States.  The We the People textbooks are designed for a wide range of student abilities and may be used as a supplemental text or for a full semester of study.   
 

Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop intellectual and participatory skills while increasing students’ understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. The We the People curriculum fosters attitudes that are necessary for students to participate as effective, responsible citizens. After studying the textbook, students take a multiple-choice test and prepare for the simulated congressional hearing. Upon completion of the course, they receive a certificate of achievement signed by their member of Congress or other prominent official. 
 

Textbooks   
 

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is available at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. Teacher’s editions for each level contain lesson plans and suggested activities to enrich classroom instruction.  

Classroom sets include 30 student books and a teacher’s edition.  Instructional information and supplies necessary to complete the program are included with the teacher’s edition. Free classroom sets are available on a limited basis in each congressional district in the nation. Additional sets may be purchased from the Center at a nominal cost.  
 

Culminating Activity: Performance Assessment in Action  
 

Teachers are encouraged to hold a simulated congressional hearing with their students as the culminating activity for the We the People program. The entire class, working in cooperative teams, prepares and presents statements on constitutional questions before a panel of community representatives who act as congressional committee members. Students then answer questions posed by the committee members. The format provides students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles while providing teachers with an excellent means of assessing performance.  
 

Teachers may engage their students in the simulated hearing activity at the following levels:  
 

• Elementary and middle school level classes may conduct noncompetitive hearings in front of a classroom or auditorium-size audience with community members acting as judges.
• Teachers at the high school level may conduct a noncompetitive hearing, but are encouraged to participate in the nationwide competitive program. High school competition begins at the congressional district level with teams from each school vying for the district championship, which makes a class eligible to compete at the Washington State Competition.  The state championship class travels to Washington, D.C. in the spring to represent their state in the We the People national finals.

More than 1200 high school students and their teachers participate annually in the We the People national finals. While in Washington, students have an opportunity to explore historic sites, visit museums, and meet with members of Congress and other prominent officials.  
 

Program Evaluation  
 

The Center for Civic Education participates in research to validate the effectiveness of the programs. The Program Effectiveness Panel of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Diffusion Network examined the reports of numerous research studies on the We the People program. The panel validated the results of those studies and confirmed the program’s powerful educational effects on students’ civic knowledge and attitudes. This formal validation recognizes the We the People program’s "contributions to excellence in education." 
 

What the Research Says

• A "great instructional success," is how the Educational Testing Service characterizes the We the People program. Independent studies by ETS have revealed that We the People students "significantly outperformed comparison students on every topic of the tests taken."
• Students involved in the We the People program develop greater commitment to democratic principles and values, according to a study by Richard Brody of Stanford University. The study concludes that the program is effective in promoting political tolerance because participating students feel more politically effective and perceive fewer limits on their own political freedom.
• "[T]eachers feel excited and renewed.... Students are enthusiastic about what they have been able to accomplish, especially in terms of their ability to carry out a reasoned argument. They have become energized about their place as citizens of the United States," say researchers from the Council for Basic Education
• A 2001 survey of We the People alumni revealed that they are better informed and participate at higher rates than their peers. The data suggests that voting rates are significantly higher among alumni than nonparticipating peers surveyed in the 2000 American National Election Study (NES). Eighty-two percent of We the People alumni voted in November 2000, in contrast to 48 percent turnout by peers.

Further research can be found on the Center for Civic Education’s website.

How To Get Involved  
 

Civic Education Washington State, in cooperation with The Center for Civic Education, administers the We the People program nationally through a network of coordinators in 50 states, 435 congressional districts, 4 trust territories, and the District of Columbia. These coordinators work with their members of Congress, business and community leaders, and local educators to contribute to the success of the program.    
 

Teachers and Educators may: 

• contact their district and/or state coordinator to involve their students in the We the People program  
• work with their congressional district coordinator to include community leaders and members of Congress as judges, speakers, and presenters at the simulated hearings 

Government Officials may:

• sign and present award certificates, speak at simulated hearings, serve as judges, and welcome students from their state to the national finals in Washington, D.C.  
• discuss constitutional issues with students in their classrooms and speak at teacher training workshops
• support the efforts of their district and state coordinators in all aspects of program implementation

Community, Business, and Professional Associations may: 

• volunteer time and expertise by serving on advisory committees, providing leadership support, and serving as competition judges  
• provide financial support to help purchase program materials, underwrite local and statewide competitions, and send winning classes to state and national finals.  

For more information on participating in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, contact Kathy Hand and/or your congressional district volunteer.