National Civics Bee

# National Civics Bee The National Civics Bee is a national competition that tests high school students on their knowledge of U.S. government, history, constitutional principles, and civic participation. Modeled after the tradition of academic knowledge competitions like the National Spelling Bee, the Civics Bee challenges students to demonstrate deep, accurate civic knowledge through written tests and live question-and-answer rounds, advancing from local chambers of commerce through regional competitions to a national final in Washington, D.C. ## About the National Civics Bee The National Civics Bee was launched in 2021 by The Civic Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to address a national civic education crisis: surveys consistently show that most American adults—and students—cannot name all three branches of government, explain how a bill becomes a law, or identify the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The Civics Bee takes this problem seriously and offers a solution: a rigorous, engaging competition that rewards students who invest in understanding how American democracy actually works. ## Competition Structure **Local Competition** Students apply to compete through their local chamber of commerce or participating school. Local rounds typically feature a written test covering U.S. civics content followed by a live question-and-answer round for top scorers. **State/Regional Competition** Local winners advance to state or regional competitions, where they face live question-and-answer rounds judged by civic leaders and educators. **National Finals — Washington, D.C.** State champions and regional winners travel to Washington, D.C. for the national final, which includes: - Multiple rounds of increasingly difficult civics questions - A "Governor's Essay" component where finalists write on a significant civic issue - Awards ceremony with recognition from national civic leaders **Prize Structure** - National Champion: $5,000 scholarship - Runner-up: $2,500 scholarship - Additional prizes for regional and state champions ## What's Tested? Civics Bee questions draw from: - U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights - Structure and function of all three branches of government - The legislative process (how bills become laws) - U.S. history and founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers) - Civil rights and civil liberties law - Elections, voting rights, and civic participation - State and local government structures - U.S. foreign policy and international institutions ## Who Should Compete? The Civics Bee is ideal for students who: - Are strong in history and social studies - Have a genuine interest in government, law, or public policy - Want a competition that rewards depth of civic knowledge - Are considering careers in law, political science, public administration, or journalism - Want to demonstrate knowledge that is directly relevant to college major interests ## How to Prepare Official preparation resources include: - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) civics test materials - U.S. Civics Content Standards from the Center for Civic Education - iCivics online games and learning modules - The Civic Trust's official study guide (available on the website) ## College Application Value Competing in the National Civics Bee—especially advancing to state or national rounds—signals genuine intellectual engagement with civic life, not just formal coursework. For students applying to political science, public policy, pre-law, or history programs at colleges like Georgetown, GWU, American, Yale, or the UVA Frank Batten School, this is a highly relevant credential.