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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today announced that the House of Representatives passed a resolution congratulating East High School in Denver for winning the 2008 “We the People” National Civics Competition for the second year in a row.

“I want to congratulate East High School for winning this highly competitive nationwide competition,” said DeGette. “As a former volunteer coach of the East High School We the People program, I know first-hand the skill and expertise needed to be competitive, let alone take home back-to-back championships.  The students at East certainly made the Mile High City proud once again.”

This program is sponsored by the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Civic Education, whose mission is to help develop and foster a well-informed citizenry through civics education.  Its flagship program, “We the People,” is funded in part through the U.S. Department of Education under the Education for Democracy Act. 

Each year, thousands of students from across the country participate in “We the People,” and begin a rigorous program studying the foundations of our constitutional democracy.  By studying an advanced textbook and reading a number of primary source documents, these students become experts in the U.S. Constitution, its foundations and controversies over two centuries ago, and its complexities in today’s legislative and legal system.  The program culminates with national finalists participating in simulated congressional hearings in Washington, DC.