• Greetings, Applicants!  

    Process for joining the 2024-2025 Constitution Team 

    If you complete the steps outlined in this document, your application will be considered for the 2023-2024 Constitution Team. Your academic essay, personal essay and interview will help determine the team. 

     

    Constitution Team is an intense academic experience that appeals to students interested in government, social justice, history, politics, law, activism, social change, public speaking, competition, as well as independent and collaborative learning. The team is divided into 6 units (of up to 6 students each), and each unit studies a different aspect of the Constitution. There are no prerequisites. The focus is as follows:

     

    Unit 1 - Philosophical and historical foundations (Locke, Montesquieu, the Magna Carta, etc.)

    Unit 2 - Framing the Constitution, the Constitutional Convention of 1787, how and why it was written

    Unit 3 - How we have changed the Constitution to achieve the ideals of the Declaration of Independence?

    Unit 4 - How our government works, separation of powers between the branches of the government

    Unit 5 - Bill of Rights, civil rights and civil liberties (freedom of speech, religion, press, trials, etc.)

    Unit 6 - Current events, history and future of democracy, civic engagement, citizenship

     

    The class builds to the state competition in January, in the style of a mock Congressional hearing. You are testifying on your area of expertise in front of a panel of judges. Each unit will prepare responses for 3 questions ahead of time regarding their unit of study. For each question, you will write and rehearse a 4-minute prepared statement. You will then be quizzed by the judges for 6 minutes on your unit’s focus, current events and your prepared statement. If we are successful at regionals we go on to state, and if we win we have the opportunity to compete at Nationals in Washington D.C. (which we have done 16 of the past 21 years). Constitution Team is an enormously rewarding experience. There is nothing else like it at Grant. If you get pleasure from learning for the sake of learning, then this is the class for you!  

    Steps

    1. Write an academic essay, not to exceed 1,000 words, in response to the prompt set forth below. 

    2. Write a personal essay following the instructions outlined below.

    3. Participate in a short interview with Ms. DiPasquale (teacher) and Head coaches Shelley Larkins and Tim Volpert, (In May TBD) in the afternoon after school and in person)

    4. Larry Burke, our style coach, will host a mandatory workshop (TBD). You will be participating in a public speaking session with other applicants. This meeting will be scheduled in advance and held in the evening.

     

    1.) Academic essay prompt Due  

    Instructions: Below is your prompt for the essay you will write to apply for the 2024-2025 Constitution Team. 

     

    The Constitution of the United States creates a system of government called "federalism."  In a federal system like ours, the power of government is diffused among the federal and state governments, as well as between the three branches of the federal government.  Some argue that the national government should be more powerful than the states.  Others argue the opposite, that the states should be more powerful than the federal government.  Using only the text of the body of the Constitution, as well as the first ten amendment to the Constitution (i.e., the Bill of Rights), explain and identify the following: 

    • (1) where the powers of the federal government are discussed; 

    • (2) where limitations on the powers of the federal government, if any, are discussed; 

    • (3) where powers of states are discussed; and 

    • (4) where limitations on the powers of states, if any are discussed.  

    • Finally, explain how the Supreme Court of the United States greatly enhanced the power of the national government with its interpretation of the Constitution in the landmark case Wickard v. Filburn (1942). 

    • Do so in no more than 1,000 words.

     

    Keep in mind, your essay needs to contain your own thoughts and your own words. Anybody can google and find what others have written. Don’t simply lift others thoughts and place them into your essay. This doesn’t mean that what you think must be something no one else has ever said about it and something highly sophisticated. It just means we want you to think about it.  Second, on the Constitution Team, precision of thought and attention to detail in writing is important - (we do not expect perfection). However, double-check your work for bad grammar, spelling errors and incomplete sentences. This essay is not a barrier, we are interested in learning how you think about the issues.

     

    Finally, in accordance with academic integrity expectations, please do NOT ask current or former Con Team members for help. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. DiPasquale - adipasquale@pps.net  

     

    2.) Personal essay prompt Due …

    1) Why are you applying to the Constitution Team? This class requires members to read assigned texts and complete textbook homework over the summer. It requires a lot of time and effort outside of the scheduled class-why do you want to be part of it? 

    2) Why do you want to spend this much of your senior year devoted to one activity? Given what you know about the team, please also explain how you would contribute to the success of the team.

    3) What other extracurricular activities are you planning on participating in as a senior?  Are there specific days and times when you are absolutely 100% for sure unavailable?

     

    Time Commitment: Mandatory Wednesday meetings from 6:30-8:30. As a unit you determine with your coaches an additional meeting of 2 hours during the weekend. Beginning mid December we will meet every Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. 

     

    Submitting your essays

    Submit your essays in one PDF document electronically to Ms. DiPasquale at adipasquale@pps.net or drop them off in Ms. DiPasquale’s mailbox in the main office.  Make sure to include your email address so we can contact you. If you need more time please let me know. Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions.

     

    Due on April 1, 2024

    Good luck!  Go Grant!