The Oratorical program was developed primarily to instill a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution in high school students. Participants also grow in leadership ability, their capacity to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and understanding of the rights, responsibilities, obligations and privileges of U.S. citizens. The program also assists students in affording a college education, with the first-place winner receiving $25,000 and the next two finishers taking home $22,500 and $20,000, respectively. First round participants in the national contest receive a $2,000 scholarship. Second-round participants who do not advance to the final round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship.
Eligibility
Eligible participants in The American Legion’s High School Oratorical Scholarship Program shall be a legal United States citizen, possess legal residency, or legal visitor status to be in the United States.
Contestants must be bona fide students, described as any student younger than 20 on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private, or state accredited home school). commencing with grade 9 and terminating with grade 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school when participating at any level of the program.
High school students who graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled full time in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest.
Speech Topics
Prepared oration The subject to be used for the prepared oration in the Oratorical Contest must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than 8 minutes or more than 10 minutes for delivery.
Assigned topic The assigned topic discourse must not consume less than 3 minutes or more than 5 minutes for delivery. The purpose of the assigned topic discourse is to test the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution.
Assigned topics for 2026
Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article III, Section 3 Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attained.
Article IV, Section 4 The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article VI, Clause 3 The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.