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Department of Minnesota, 6th District

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Oratorical Contest

The purpose of The American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of 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, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

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The 6th District Oratorical Contest will be held at Little Falls on January 14, 2023

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The American Legion Oratorical Contest has been scheduled to be on January 20th, 2024 at the Nisswa American Legion. All students need to be there by 9:00 AM to fill out the paperwork in the basement of the Legion Post 627. There will be Donuts and Rolls, water and juice for the students. There will be Coffee and Donuts and Rolls, and Water for the judges, and Parents and instructors for the students for a FREE WILL OFFERING. Students can bring notes for studying before their speeches.

We are in need of Judges, Chaperones, Talleyers, Time Keepers. So if you would like to Volunter for this special event give me a call at 218-536-0318 and be there by 9:00 AM

All Posts are encouraged to find students starting in the 9th Grade to 12th Grade. They can be in Private School or Home Schooled and they can also be in Parochial School, or any other school recognized by the Government. They give 2 speeches, 1st speech is on the main body of the Constitution for 8 to 10 minutes and the second speech is for 3 to 5 minutes on the 4 Amendments picked by American Legion, National Organization.

So go find those Students, You can’t tell me there is not a student wanting money for college. They are out there. Let me know when you find them so we can tell Nisswa what to plan for.

Jim Lucas, Oratorical Chairman 218-536-0318

Oratorical Contest 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 2024 Oratorical Contest

Amendment II b A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment XXIII bThe District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the State, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Amendment XXV, Section 3 bWhenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Amendment V bNo 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, not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.