OKLAHOMA ORATORICAL CONTEST - 06 March 2027
Director-Cross Looney-/ Robert L. Willis Assistant Director Topics for 2027 Oratorical
“A constitutional speech contest”
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, national television commentator and talk radio host Lou Dobbs, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year.
The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship.
Second place takes home $22,500,
Third place winner gets third gets $20,000.
Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.
High school students under age 20 are eligible. Competition begins at the post level and advances to a state competition. Legion department representatives certify one winner per state to the national contest, where department winners compete against each other in two speaking rounds. The contest caps off with a final round that decides the three top finishers.
Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are eight to 10 minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest.
OKLAHOMA ORATORICAL CONTEST - 06 March 2027
Topics for the 2027 Oratorical Contest
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article VI Paragraph 2
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Amendment XIV Section 3
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Amendment XXII Section 1
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
All Posts and District Legionaries, the Oratorical Constitution Speech Program starts today, and this information will provide your contestants the summer to prepare for the Post contest that will take place in December- January, followed by the District contest that should be held in January - February 2027.
The Oratorical Oklahoma Department contest is scheduled for March 06, 2027. The location is the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute on the campus of UCO in Edmond, OK.
Students report NLT 9:00 am. Contest starts at 10:00am. Food provided after by Post 111.
The 2027 National Finals will be held May 14-16 in Hillsdale, Michigan, at Hillsdale College.
All contestants and chaperones will arrive the Friday of the contest weekend. All contestants and chaperones will stay on campus at Hillsdale College.
A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will take place the Friday evening of the contest weekend. A banquet honoring all contestants will be Sunday afternoon, following the national championship contest.
The official rules and other information on the Oratorical Program can be found at
