Contest Making Democracy Work is collaborative government project along with Huffington Post seeking essay submissions from middle and high school students

The United States Capitol Historical Society Announces The 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest

In pursuit of its mission to promote the history of the United States Congress and American representative government, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society announces its 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest. The nationwide contest is open to all students in two categories: a junior division contest for students in grades 6-8 and a senior division contest for students in grades 9-12.

Three prizes will be awarded in each division:

• a first place prize of $1,000 and a trip to Washington, DC to accept the prize,
• a second place prize of $500,
• a third place prize of $250.
• The schools of the two first place winners will also receive a $1,000 cash award.

“We are proud to offer talented students the opportunity to showcase their thoughtful perspectives about what it means to be an American citizen today,” said Ronald Sarasin, President of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. “We hope our contest will be a catalyst for an important national discussion about democracy, citizenship and our collective responsibilities as Americans.”

The subject of the 2013 contest is: The rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Students should consider the rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution and the corresponding duties that citizens owe to implement and protect those rights for themselves and for others. How do these rights and responsibilities affect you and your family? Why is it important to be aware of your rights and responsibilities?

Complete information on the contest, including contest rules and student registration and essay adviser entry forms, can be found here.

The 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest is made possible by a grant from Express Scripts. The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a congressionally chartered non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization founded in 1962. Its mission is to inform the public about the rich heritage of the Capitol and the Congress.