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Department of Tennessee
"CONSTITUTIONAL SPEECH" HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL CONTEST
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Scholarships totaling $6,000 will be awarded to students taking part in the state contest. The state winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship, plus an all-expenses paid trip to Hillsdale College, Hillsdale MI to compete in the national contest, May 16-18, 2025 and a part of the $167,500 national scholarship pool.
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.
If you are a high school student who would like to participate, or a teacher or parent of a student who would like to participate, please use this website to gain a better understanding of the contest.
To apply for the contest, complete the application form below by clicking on the blue "ORATORICAL APPLICATION/CERTIFICATION FORM" and return it to your local contest Post or District Chairman as instructed. Remember Application/School Certification of their contest representatives must arrive at The American Legion Department of Tennessee, 318 Donelson Pike, Nashville TN 37214 not later than FEBRUARY 4, 2025. For more information click on the following link: Department Oratorical Information Package sent to Schools.
Please contact Chairman Terry Ward, 615-519-6523 or email tswardpost281am@gmail.com with any questions.
2025 ORATORICAL APPLICATION/CERTIFICATION FORM
District Contests between February 8 to March 1, 2025
| DISTRICT | DATE TIME & LOCATION | POINT OF CONTACT |
| 1 |
Steven Picinovsky
stevenpecinovsky@gmail.com
(352) 942-9561
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| 2 |
Robert Vergith
msgvergith@icloud.com
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3
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4
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FEBRUARY 8 2025, 10:00 A.M.
Putnam County Courthouse
300 E Spring Street, Cookeville |
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5
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FEBRUARY 8 2025, 9:00 A.M.
St. Stephens RC Church, Old Hickory
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Bruno Padovani
bspadovani@sbcglobal.net
(630) 881-0331
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| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | ||
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9
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| 10 |
February 15, 2025, 10:00 A.M.
Riverside Baptist Church
3590 South Third St. Memphis TN
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Nancy Harper
nlb5080ivory@gmail.com
(901) 371-6046
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Division Contests between March 8 to March 16, 2024
| DIVISION | DATE, TIME & LOCATION | POINT OF CONTACT |
| East | Bryan Lauzon | |
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Middle
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| West | March 8, 2025 | Thomas Raines |
PREPARED ORATION:
The oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest.
Contestants may have a copy of their prepared oration while waiting in the first holding room. They may consult the copy until they exit to begin the contest. The copy will then be surrendered to the contest official monitoring the first holding room.
Quotations must always be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than 10 words in length, the author’s name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.
It is acceptable to utilize or incorporate short phrases in a foreign language to develop the argument, establish a point, etc. It should be understood that the vast majority of the prepared oration and/or assigned topic must still be delivered in English. Singing is not permitted and will result in immediate disqualification. The contestant may, however, quote a verse(s) of a song(s) provided proper attribution is made.
Assigned Topics for 2025 Oratorical Contest
Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment XVIII
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Amendment XXVI
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.