The Arcadia High School (AHS) “We the People” Constitution team also known as Gov Team competed at the “We the People” Constitutional Regional Competition on Dec. 7, against Pacifica Christian High School. The Constitution Team managed to win this competition and will be advancing to State Finals next year at Sacramento on Feb. 1 2025.
The name ‘We the People” comes from the saying “We the People of the United States” from the US Constitution, strongly supporting the idea that the Constitution is one for a unified nation.
This program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process of competing, they develop support for democratic principles and political results.
The team is split up into six units, all focusing on the American system of government and civics.
“The Government Team debates the interpretations and applications of the Constitution,” said senior William Pan. “My unit discusses the interpretations of the Reconstruction Amendments and its application to suffrage and Judicial Review.”
The AHS Constitution team consists of 27 seniors who are enrolled in AP United States Government and Politics and who must try out for the team. The class is taught and coached by Ms. Megan Leahy. The team also has dedicated volunteer coaches who serve as mentors for the students. For example, former Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic has been lending his expertise to the team since 1995, when his daughter Kelly Kovacic was a member.
“We spend roughly 10 hours weekly in and out of the classroom researching, writing our drafts, and rehearsing potential free response questions,” said senior Jenny Liao. “Our goal for the regional competition was to advance onto states, which we won through perseverance and hard work.”
During meetings, the members run simulations of their competition format, which is similar to a mock congressional hearing. A constitutional theory question is posed, requiring members to prepare a response and then address impromptu questions that could cover a wide range of topics.
“At our district competition, our goal was to do well,” said senior Saanvi Sakthivel. “Considering it was our first competition and the months of preparation we had put in leading up to that moment, I could tell we were definitely nervous. However, the hard work paid off; being able to do well at districts was a moment to prove to ourselves that we are capable of being successful. It was also a great stepping stone in preparing our work ethics to do well at state.”
Besides incorporating a curriculum about speaking skills and civics, the Constitution team also has lasting impacts on students’ lives, according to Ms. Leahy. “I always hope the skills and experiences of the Gov. Team will last them a lifetime, as they absolutely work hard and are able to achieve great things when that preparation meets the opportunity.”
Photo Courtesy of JENNY LIAO
