[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WE THE PEOPLE--THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, on May 2-4, while their friends are 
celebrating the 124th running of the Kentucky Derby, some students from 
my home state will be answering questions about the Constitution, here 
in Washington, in a mock Congressional hearing. These students will be 
competing in the national finals of the We the People . . . The Citizen 
and the Constitution program. I am proud to announce that the class 
from Louisville Male High School will represent Kentucky. These young 
people have worked long and hard to reach the national finals, winning 
local competitions to get here.
  I would like to recognize these students for their achievements. The 
members of this class representing Kentucky are Angela Adams, Perry 
Bacon, Katherine Breeding, Will Carle, Eric Coatley, Courtney Coffee, 
Brian Davis, Mary Fleming, Matt Gilbert, Amanda Holloway, Holly Jessie, 
Heath Lambert, Gwen Malone, Kristy Martin, Brian Palmer, Lauren 
Reynolds, Shane Skoner, LaVonda Willis, Bryan Wilson, Darreisha Wilson, 
Beth Wilson, Janelle Winfree, Treva Winlock, and Jodie Zeller.
  I would also like to recognize their teacher, Mrs. Sandy Hoover, who 
clearly deserves a lot of the credit for the class' success. The 
district coordinator, Dianne Meredith, and the state coordinators, 
Deborah Williamson and Jennifer Van Hoose, also contributed their time 
and effort to help the class reach the national finals.
  The We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution program is 
the most extensive educational program in the country developed 
specifically to educate young people about the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights. The three-day national competition simulates a 
congressional hearing. Students are given the opportunity to 
demonstrate their knowledge while they evaluate, take, and defend 
positions on relevant historical and contemporary constitutional 
issues. The simulated congressional hearing consists of oral 
presentation by the students before panels of adult judges.
  The We the People . . . program is run by the Center for Civic 
Education. The program has provided teaching materials to upper 
elementary, middle, and high schools for more than 75,000 teachers and 
24 million students across the nation. Members of Congress and staff 
also contribute by discussing current constitutional issues with 
program participants.
  This special program is designed to help students understand and 
appreciate the values and principles that unite us as Americans. The 
program also promotes the notion of citizenship--that the rights and 
benefits are tempered by the responsibilities of participation in 
effective government.
  I wish these young people the best of luck testing their 
constitutional knowledge in the upcoming national finals of the We the 
People . . . program. I also congratulate them on reaching this level 
of competition.

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