Programs & Events

We the People

We the People in South Dakota

The South Dakota Humanities Council coordinates We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a statewide civic education program. We the People is a program from the Center for Civic Education, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

We the People is a classroom curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school that teaches students about the United States Constitution.  The culminating goal for the program is to conduct a simulated congressional hearing in the classroom or at the statewide competition.

Every year in early winter the South Dakota Humanities Council sponsors a competition for high school classes that use the We the People curriculum. Students research and prepare oral presentations on questions arising from the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. They also face judges’ questioning. The winning team attends the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in the spring of each year.

Why is We the People such an important program? Watch the video!

2009 State Winners

Congratulations to Spearfish High School and their teacher, Patrick Gainey, for winning the 2009 State Finals!
The We the People program is growing in South Dakota!  If you are a social studies teacher and would like to get your class involved in We the People, you can attend one of the Professional Development Opportunities or visit with a District Coordinator listed below.

Program Coordinators

For more information, please call Stephanie Horsley at 605-688-6113 or visit the Center for Civic Education website at www.civiced.org. 

1215 Trail Ridge Road, Suite A • Brookings, SD 57006 • Tel: 605-688-6113 • Fax: 605-688-4531 • info@sdhumanities.org