We the People
What is We the People?
 "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" is a national program directed by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the United States Department of Education by act of Congress. Based on curriculum designed to promote a deeper understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the goal is to promote civic competence and responsibility among elementary and secondary students.
The curriculum is created to involve students in the learning process and give them an opportunity to analyze and discuss a particular problem or issue related to the subject of the lesson. The culminating activity of the materials is a mock congressional hearing. Students become experts on a particular unit and testify before a panel of teachers, lawyers, elected officials or community leaders. This is a wonderful way to showcase your student's understanding of the Constitutional principles of our democratic government.
The Textbooks
The core of the We the People program is the textbook itself. We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is the high school level textbook. We the People is the title of the books designed for the upper elementary and middle school levels. Teacher's guides for each level contain lesson plans and suggested activities to enrich classroom instruction. The textbooks may be used as a supplemental text or for a full semester of study. Classroom sets include 30 student books, a teacher's guide, and an instructional packet containing the information and supplies necessary to compete the program. Free classroom sets are available on a limited basis in each congressional district in the state. Additional sets may be purchased from the Center for Civic Education at a nominal cost.
 The foundation of the We the People
program is the classroom curriculum. It complements the regular school curriculum by
providing upper elementary, middle, and high school students with an innovative course of instruction on the history and principles of
constitutional democracy in the United States. The We the People curriculum fosters attitudes that are necessary for students to participate as effective, responsible citizens. Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop intellectual and participatory skills while increasing students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy.
After studying the textbook, students take a multiple-choice test and prepare for the simulated congressional hearing.
The design of the instructional program, including its mock congressional hearing activity, makes the program successful with both teachers and students. Better yet, it addresses many of the standards that are required in Wisconsin's K-12 curriculum. The We the People curriculum culminates with a state level mock congressional hearing. Wisconsin's State hearing was scheduled for Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the State Capitol in Madison. The national hearing takes place annually in Washington D.C.
 For more information on how to obtain a classroom set of books in your congressional district or to find out how to participate in the
Wisconsin State Mock Congressional Hearing contact your district coordinators or either of the state coordinators by clicking on the map
provided.
The Bill of Rights Institute - http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/
Center of Civic Education - http://www.civiced.org/
Do You Have the Right? - http://www.DoYouHavetheRight.org/
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