The American Legion Department of Alabama

ALABAMA AMERICAN LEGION

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

"A Constitutional Speech Contest"

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any students under the age of twenty (20) years on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said school is considered to be of high school level commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.

The three finalist of the National Contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.

In order to receive the first place award at any level within the Department of Alabama, the winner must represent the American Legion at the next level of the contest.

PREPARED ORATION: The subject to be used for the Prepared Oration must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The Same subject and oration used in the Department Contest must be used in the National Contest.

In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic Discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author's name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.

The Prepared Oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language. Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their Prepared Oration in the first Holding Room. They may consult the copy of their Prepared Oration, until they exit the Holding Room in order to begin the contest, at which time the copy of the Prepared Oration will be given to the contest official that is monitoring the First Holding Room.

ASSIGNED TOPIC: The Assigned Topic Discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. The Assigned Topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, selected from the Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year's contest in this brochure. All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.

Assigned Topics for 2010 Oratorical Contest

Article 4 Section 3 Para 1

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

Article 5

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Amendment 5

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

CONTEST REGULATIONS

A drawing shall be held by the contest official to determine the order in which the contestants will appear. The Contest Chairman shall announce the title of the contestant's prepared oration immediately after introducing the student as Contestant Number 1, Contestant Number 2, etc. The Chairman will request the audience to refrain from applause until the Judges have made their decision.

A raised platform is not compulsory; however, it is strongly recommended. The use of notes, amplification, lectern or speaker's stand by contestants or prompting in any manner is not permitted. Props are not permitted.

The time allotted for each contestant to deliver their Prepared Oration shall not be less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes and for the Assigned Topic, not less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes.

An official shall be named by the Contest Chairman whose duty it shall be to keep an accurate time record of each contestant, and shall be located on the main floor in full view of the contestants.

The timekeeper shall begin timing each contestant at the start of the Prepared Oration. The timer should be equipped with a stopwatch and cards marked 8, 9, and 10 for the Prepared Oration and cards marked 3, 4 and 5 for the Assigned Topic Discourse.  When eight minutes have been used during the Prepared Oration, the time warning card with the figure 8 thereon shall be placed in view of the speaker, following with 9 and 10 as the speaker progresses. The same procedure shall be used with cards bearing 3, 4, and 5 during the Assigned Topic Discourse.   The Contest Chairman shall announce the time consumed by each Contestant for the Prepared Oration and the Assigned Topic immediately after each contestant speaks for the benefit of the Judges.

Contestants are required to remain in a private room where the discourse of the other speakers cannot be heard until it is their turn to speak (contestants will be under the supervision of an individual appointed by the Contest Chairman). As the contestants conclude their Prepared Oration, they must return to private waiting room. As each speaker concludes his/her Assigned Topic discourse, they shall not be allowed to associate with the contestants who have not fulfilled the Assigned Topic requirement.

Approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of the delivery of the Assigned Topic Discourse, Contestant Number 1 will be informed of the topic drawn for the Assigned Topic and shall be permitted to retire to privacy under the direction of an individual appointed by the Contest Chairman, whose duty it shall be to see that no contestant is permitted to consult any text matter of notes having any connection with the subject matter upon which he/she is to speak, other than the actual words of the topic provided on the card drawn.

Each succeeding contestant will be called upon in the order in which he/she previously appeared. He/she shall also, in turn, be informed of the topic of the Assigned Topic Discourse and shall then be escorted to privacy in the manner as provided for Contestant Number 1.

DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA ORATORICAL CONTEST DATES: (May be held earlier but not later than)

School Contests                       Not later than            February 7,2010

County/Zone Contests             Not later than            February 14, 2010

District Contests                      Not later than            February 21, 2010

Division Contest                      Not later than            February 28, 2010

Department Contest                 Not later than            March 7, 2010

THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA AND NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The American Legion will pay travel and lodging for Department winners and their chaperones to the National Contest in Indianapolis, Indiana April 9-11, 2010. Each Department winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $ 1,500.00 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the final round will receive an additional $ 1,500.00 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.

ALABAMA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIPS:

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: Offers the first place winner at the state level a four-year renewable tuition scholarship and the second and third place winner at the state level a $ 1,000.00 scholarship. Students must meet the University admission standards and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for renewal. The Student must enroll the fall semester immediately following the senior year of high school

AUBURN UNIVERSITY: Offers the first place winner a four-year renewable Freshman Academic Scholarship for $1250.00. The student must apply for and meet all criteria for admission. The student must have a minimum of 27 ACT or 1220 SAT and 3.5 high school GPA. The student must enroll the fall semester immediately following the senior year of high school. A student previously awarded a Freshman Academic Scholarship equal to or greater than the amount stated above is ineligible for the award.

TROY STATE UNIVERSITY: Offers the first place winner at the state level a full tuition and fees scholarship, the second place winner at the state level a one-half tuition and fees scholarship, and the third place winner at the state level a one-fourth tuition and fees scholarship. .

JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY: Offers the first place winner at the state level a full tuition and fees scholarship, the second place winner at the state level a one-half tuition and fees scholarship, and the third place winner at the state level a one-fourth tuition and fees scholarship.

SAMFORD UNIVERSITY: Offers the following scholarships to winners of The American Legion National High School Oratorical contests:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA: Offers the first place winner at the state level a one-year full tuition scholarship (up to 16 hours per semester for two semesters). This scholarship can be combined with a merit-based scholarship.

HUNTINGDON COLLEGE:

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY: Offers the first place winner at the state level a full tuition and fees scholarship. The students must meet the Alabama State University admissions standards and must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. Scholarships are limited to eight academic semesters and are renewable each semester.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO: Offers the first place winner at the state level a one-year full tuition scholarship and the second place winner at the state level a one-year one-half tuition scholarship

THE UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE: Offers one American Legion Oratorical Contest winner one scholarship to one student in any of the following categories:

1. National finalist-a full tuition scholarship-must maintain 3.0 GPA.
2. State finalist-a one year tuition scholarship-must maintain 3.0 GPA.
3. County/District/Division winners-$ 1,500.00 Scholarship-3.0 GPA.

SHELTQN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Offers a one-year full tuition scholarship to first, second and third place winners at the state level.

ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY: Offers the first place winner at the state level a two-year renewable full tuition Scholarship (Junior and Senior Level only). Students must meet the Admissions standards of Athens State University and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA.

CALHOUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Offers the first place winner at the state level a two-year tuition and fees scholarship (Freshman and Sophomore level only); the second place winner at the state level a $400.00 scholarship per year for two years; and the third place winner at the state level a $200.00 scholarship for two years.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM: Offers the first place winner at the state level a four-year tuition scholarship. The second and third place winners at the state level will be offered a four-year scholarship valued at $1,000.00 per year. The students must meet the admissions criteria of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and maintain a 3.0 grade point average in order to renew the scholarship.

BE VILE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Offers the first, second, and third place winners at the state level a one-year full tuition scholarship. The scholarship will be renewable not to exceed two years provided the recipient maintains a 3.0 or higher grade point average while enrolled at Bevill State.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA:

First Place                    $3,000.00 per year

Second Place               $2,000.00 per year

Third Place                  $ 1,000.00 per year

For more information, Please contact The American Legion Department of Alabama Jr. Vice Commander Jeff McNair (256) 282-1649; E-mail – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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