Constitutional scholars from across Virginia engaged students in a question-and-answer session at the High School "We the People" State Competition on Saturday, February 7th, 2009, at the Patrick Henry Executive Office Building in Richmond, Virginia.  Hosted by The Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, the event engaged nearly 150 students from six Virginia high schools who fielded questions on the Bill of Rights and the Constitution posed by a panel of judges in a mock Congressional hearing.

 At the 2009 "We the People" High School Competition, six teams of junior and senior high school students presented four minutes of prepared testimony and answered six minutes of questions about historical, political, and constitutional issues.  Judges from across the state challenged the students to argue positions on complex issues of both modern and historical importance, ranging from the constitutional interpretations of the Founders to the meaning of citizenship in our modern democracy.  Prior to the competition, students spent a semester honing theirs skills in public speaking, research, writing, and argumentation.

The Maggie L. Walker Governor's School from Richmond took the state title for the twelfth year in a row.  Oscar F. Smith High School from Chesapeake placed second, and James River High School from Midlothian took third.

 To view all the photos and purchase individual shots from the event, please use the link and password listed below:

http://whboozimages.smugmug.com/Montpelier
Password: montpelierhs