[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                             WE THE PEOPLE

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, on May 1-3, 1999 more than 1,200 
students from across the United States will be in Washington DC to 
compete in the national finals of the ``We the People . . . The Citizen 
and the Constitution'' program. I am proud to announce that a class 
from Corner High School from the city of Warrior will represent my home 
state of Alabama in this national event. These young scholars have 
worked diligently to reach the national finals and through their 
experience have gained a deep knowledge and understanding of the 
fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy.
  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 is modeled after 
hearings in the United States Congress. These hearings consist of oral 
presentations by high school students before a panel of adult judges. 
The students testify as constitutional experts before a ``congressional 
committee,'' that is, the panel of judges representing various regions 
of the country and a variety of appropriate professional fields. The 
student testimony is followed by a period of questioning during which 
the judges probe students for their depth of understanding and ability 
to apply their constitutional knowledge.
  The student team from Corner High School is currently conducting 
research and preparing for the upcoming national competition in 
Washington, DC. I am extremely proud of the students and teacher and 
wish them the best of luck at ``We the People'' national finals. I look 
forward to greeting them when they visit Capitol Hill.

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