High School Oratorical Program
A Constitutional Speech Contest
The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States among high school students. 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, rights, and privileges of American citizenship.
2025-2026 Department of Iowa Contest Completion Dates
Local Contests must be completed by December 7, 2025
County Contests must be completed by December 21, 2025
District Contests must be completed by January 11, 2026 (top 2 contestants may advance to the area)
Area Contests must be completed by January 25, 2026
PLEASE NOTE: These contests DO NOT have to take place on the completion dates (Sundays).
Department Finals
The 2026 Department Contest will be conducted on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 8:00 AM. The contest will be held at the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport & Conference Center.
National Finals
The 2026 National Finals [Date TBD] in Hillsdale, Michigan at Hillsdale College. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests are TBD.
Eligibility
Eligible participants in the contest shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States.
All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of 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 homeschool), commencing with grade 9 and terminating with grade 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of the contest.
High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest.
Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department (state) where they enter the competition. Contestants can enter the competition in only one department.
The three finalists of the national contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.
Local Contest
The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest begins with contests at the post level. For more information on participating, contact your local American Legion Post, email to programs@ialegion.org, or, call Department Headquarters at 800-365-8387.
Awards and Scholarships
Post, County, and District Levels: Varies by location
Area Contest:
- $50 awarded by The American Legion of Iowa for expenses.
- $200 will be awarded to 2nd and 3rd place finishers and $100 awarded to 4th, 5th, and 6th place finishers to contestants in the Area Contests.
Department (State) Contest: Matching scholarships provided by The American Legion of Iowa and The American Legion of Iowa Foundation:
| American Legion | Foundation | Total: | |
| 1st Place | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| 2nd Place | $750 | $750 | $1,500 |
| 3rd Place | $500 | $500 | $1,000 |
National Finals
The 2021 National Finals are May 16-18 in hillsdale, Michigan at the Hillsdale College. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, May 17, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, May 18.
All contestants and chaperones will arrive on the Friday of the contest weekend. All contestants and chaperones will stay at the official contest hotel.
A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will take place on the Friday evening of the contest weekend. A banquet honoring all contestants will be Sunday afternoon, following the national championship contest. All contestants and chaperones will depart for home later that afternoon.
Final Round of the National Contest:
1st Place: $25,000
2nd Place: $22,500
3rd Place: $20,000
Prepared Oration
The prepared oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration will be used at all levels of the contest.
The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight minutes or more than 10 minutes for delivery.
Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their prepared oration in the first holding room. The copy may be in electronic or paper form. 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 surrendered to the contest official who is monitoring the first holding room.
Assigned Topics
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 discourse 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 or her prepared oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the U.S. Constitution, selected from 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 2025-2026 Oratorical Contest
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article III
Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article IV
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article VI
Clause 3. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Oratorical Contest Rules and Regulations
Rules and regulations for the contest may be found in the following documents:
Downloads and Other Resources
Downloads
Oratorical Chairman Guide (PDF)
Oratorical Assigned Topics (PDF)
Oratorical Brochure (PDF)
Oratorical Flyer (PDF)
Oratorical Contest Dates (PDF)
Oratorical Judges Briefing (PDF)
Oratorical Judges Scorecard (PDF)
Oratorical Prepared Oration Scratch Talley Sheet (PDF)
Oratorical Assigned Topic Scratch Talley Sheet (PDF)
Oratorical Tabulation Program (Excel)
Oratorical: How To Conduct The Contest (link)