Who May Enter

The Civics Essay Contest is open to high school (grades 9-12) students in public, private, parochial and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status in the United States and its Territories.

Essay Rules

The maximum essay length is 1,000 words. While not required, proper use of endnote citations and bibliographies will be credited during judging but are not included in the word count. Essays must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document (preferred) or PDF file and follow these formatting guidelines:

  • Use 12 pt. Cambria or Times New Roman font, double-spaced text, with one-inch margins
  • DO NOT include a title page, page headers or footers, or page numbers
  • Include your name on the first page only
  • Place all in-text, numbered citations at the end of your essay as endnotes, followed by a bibliography (if included)
  • Name your file as follows: Firstname Lastname.ext (example: John Smith.doc; John Smith.pdf)

Essays must be submitted with a completed entry form, which is available when the contest is open for entries.

Essays will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Understanding of constitutional principles – 40 points
  • Clarity and effectiveness in expressing the theme – 30 points
  • Grammar, spelling and composition – 25 points
  • Use of footnotes, bibliographies – 5 points

Prizes

Scholarship prizes will be awarded for the following:

  • First place, $1,500
  • Second place, $1,250
  • Third place, $750

Publication Release

As a condition of entry acceptance, all publishing rights are retained by the Federal Bar Association and the association reserves the right to copyright material in its name and to reprint it in any FBA publication/media as it sees fit.

Copyright

Adherence to all U.S. copyright laws and fair use practices is required. Click here for more information and resources.

Disqualification

Reasons for disqualification include: incomplete or improperly formatted entries, off-topic essays, providing false information, committing plagiarism, not meeting the submission deadline, and not providing a release form if requested.

Questions? Click here for contest FAQs or email civics@fedbar.org