The National Constitution Bee is a project of The Star News Education Foundation
COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT
After extensive communications with National Constitution Bee organizers and venue providers, we have come to the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 National Constitution Bee until October 17, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
All of our Round One competitions – currently scheduled in Michigan and Tennessee in April; North Carolina and Minnesota in May; and Virginia in June – are postponed until September and early October.
We understand that there are several consequences to this move and that many of you will have important questions, which we are committed to work through with you.
First, however, please review these important updates that we believe will answer several issues.
For seniors who are graduating in 2020, attending college in the fall of 2020, and have replied to us to declare the Round One National Constitution Bee in which you intend to compete: YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE to compete for scholarship money this fall!
Although you will graduate this summer, we will extend your eligibility through this fall’s National Constitution Bee season. Any scholarships awarded will be made available to apply immediately in the 2020 school year. PLEASE NOTE: this extension is only for seniors who have already replied to us as instructed.
Next, the Round One National Constitution Bees are now regional events.
If you reside in a state that does not host a Round One National Constitution Bee, you may opt to compete in a Bee that is held in a neighboring – or nearby – state. For instance, for contestants who live in Indiana, they can choose to compete in Ohio, Tennessee, or Michigan. However, please note you can compete in only one Round One National Constitution Bee per season.
THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION BEE
The National Constitution Bee program began as a project of The Tennessee Star in 2017. It became a project of Star News Digital Media, Inc. in August 2018 when it acquired The Tennessee Star. In December 2019, Star News Digital Media transferred its ownership of textbooks and the National Constitution Bee to the newly formed Star News Education Foundation.
The first Tennessee Star Constitution Bee was held in 2017 at Sycamore High School of Cheatham County Schools in Pleasant View, Tennessee, the second was held in 2018 at the Williamson County Administration Building in Franklin, Tennessee. The third was held in 2019 at Metro Christian Academy in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the site of the April 25, 2020 event, now known as The Tennessee National Constitution Bee, sponsored by The Tennessee Star and The Star News Education Foundation, which is Round One of the National Constitution Bee competition.
2017 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee winner Noah Farley took his trip to Washington, D.C. in October 2017, where he met with Federal Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Griffith.
2018 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee winner Cooper Moran took his trip to Washington, D.C. in July 2018, and was at the Capitol where he witnessed Supreme Court nominee, now Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh’s first walk through the halls of the Capitol with Vice President Mike Pence on their way to meet the United States senators who would vote on his confirmation.
2019 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee winner Aryan Burns visited Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2019.
For more details about the announcement of the National Constitution Bee, click here.
The inaugural National Constitution Bee will be held at The Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. on October 17, 2020.
The first place winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship
The second place winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship
The third place winner will receive a $2,500 college scholarship
To qualify to participate in The National Constitution Bee, students must finish in the top 3 in their State Constitution Bee – or in cases where the state does not have a Constitution Bee – the At-Large Constitution Bee.
The top three finishers in each State Constitution Bee will receive college scholarships and a free trip to Washington, D.C. for themselves and a parent that coincides with the National Constitution Bee.
ROUND ONE State-level Constitution Bees
Students who live in Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, Minnesota, and North Carolina will compete in these Round One state-level events:
- The Michigan National Constitution Bee, TBD, Michigan (sponsored by the Founders Freedom Forum, The Janice Daniels Radio Program, the Michigan Chapter of U.S. Parents Involved in Education, and The Michigan Star)
- The Tennessee National Constitution Bee, TBD, Tennessee (sponsored by the Polk Foundation and The Tennessee Star)
- *Tentative* – The Ohio National Constitution Bee, TBD, Ohio (sponsored by The Ohio Star)
- The Minnesota National Constitution Bee, TBD, Minnesota (sponsored by The Minnesota Sun)
- The North Carolina National Constitution Bee, TBD, North Carolina (Sponsored by Thales Academy and Richard & Mildred Darragh)
- The Virginia National Constitution Bee, TBD, Virginia (Sponsored by Richard & Mildred Darragh)
- *Tentative* – The Texas National Constitution Bee, TBD, Texas area
The top three finishers in each of these Round One state-level events will all receive:
- College scholarships ($500 to $3000 for first place; $350 to $1000 for second place; and $150 to $500 for third place)
- Invitations to compete in the Round Two final event (The 2020 National Constitution Bee on June 27) where they will compete for the additional scholarship prizes ranging from $25,000 to $2,000
- Round trip tickets for themselves and a parent to Washington, D.C.
- Lodging for themselves and a parent at The Phoenix Park Hotel.
ROUND TWO National Constitution Bee Finals
Only the top three finishers from each Round One State-level Constitution Bee will be eligible to participate in the June 27, 2020 National Constitution Bee in Washington, D.C. where the winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship. With just seven Round One State-level Constitution Bees currently organized for April and May of 2020, that means only 21 students will be competing for the first place prize of a $25,000 college scholarship, second place prize of a $5,000 college scholarship, and third place prize of a $2,000 college scholarship.
RULES
The Constitution Bee competition consists of three parts with awards in several categories.
Part one is the Preamble Round, where contestants have the option to perform, present, or otherwise re-imagine the 52 words of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States in 60 seconds. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
– Most Creative Preamble
– Most Persuasive Preamble
– Most Entertaining Preamble
The Preamble Round will be followed by the Elimination Round, in which contestants will be asked questions of fact organized by three levels of difficulty – easy, moderate, and difficult – and the field will be narrowed to the top six.
The final Championship Round will begin by narrowing the field of six to three based on the contestants three minute oral responses to essay questions at the very difficult level.
The Grand Champion, second place, and third place winner will then be determined by the contestants answers to questions of fact asked at the very-very difficult level.
At the end of the competition, all contestants will receive a certificate of participation. Awards will be presented for the three categories of the preamble round, as well as the overall first place grand prize winner, second place winner, and third place winner.
The individual grand champion prize package includes a college scholarship of up to $3,000, a trophy, and a letter of recommendation from the judging panel. The second place winner will receive a college scholarship of up to $1,000, a trophy, and a letter of recommendation; and the third place winner will receive a college scholarship of up to $500, a trophy, and a letter of recommendation.
All three top performers will be invited to Washington D.C. to participate in the first National Constitution Bee, sponsored by Star News Education Foundation, which will be held June 27, 2020, where they will face the top three winners from the Round One National Constitution Bee winners from all the states.
LICENSES to Hold a Round One State-level Constitution Bee
are Currently Available
Parents, teachers, or local organizations who live in the 45 states where a Round One state-level Constitution Bee and are interested in holding one in 2020 are encouraged to contact us via email and apply for a license to host a Round One state-level Constitution Bee in their state. Applications to receive a license for the 2020 National Constitution Bee must be received by February 15, 2020. All applications will be reviewed for approval within ten days of receipt .
For details on how to apply for a Round One State-level Constitution Bee license in 2020,
email mleahy@
GRANTS of Books for Teachers and Parents
The Star News Education Foundation is providing grants of 20 books each to up to 18 teachers and home school groups around the country who commit to using The Guide to the Constitution and Bill of Rights for Secondary School Students and prepare their students to compete in the 2020 National Constitution Bee program.
For details on how to apply for those grants email us at mleahy@
Students in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to participate in person. The questions and associated study guide are geared to students in grades 11 and 12, but ambitious students in grades 8, 9, and 10 are welcome as well.
The Star News Digital Media Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students is a supplementary text that discusses the people and events leading up to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Students learn the personalities, policies, and some of the politics the framers dealt with as they designed what was as the time, a unique form of government. The story then continues through the first ten amendments, known as The Bill of Rights. The soft-cover book also contains chapter-end discussion topics, a robust appendix containing the complete text of the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, the remaining Amendments 11 – 27, a glossary, and sourced endnotes.
To read more about the Guide to the Constitution, click here.
Students from all states are encouraged to sign up now.
After signing up here, we will automatically register you for the Round One State-level Constitution Bee for your state. We will inform you of appropriate details for your Round One event via email.