Is Congress the most important link between the American people and their national government? What is the value of the dissenting opinion in American jurisprudence? Why did Congress think it was necessary to pass the Voting Rights Act?

These are a few of the questions high school students from across the state have been preparing to answer at We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, the state competition administered by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. We the People will take place on Jan. 27 at the Ohio Statehouse.

More than 300 Ohio students from 11 schools will participate: Archbold High School (Fulton County), Ayersville High School (Defiance County), Bellbrook High School (Greene County), Findlay High School (Hancock County), Leaves of Learning (Hamilton County), Ravenna High School (Portage County), Strongsville High School (Cuyahoga County), Van Wert High School (Van Wert County), Washington High School (Fayette County), and West Carrollton High School (Montgomery County). An additional participating class is composed of high school students involved in the Law & Leadership Institute based at the University of Cincinnati site.

Students showcase their understanding of constitutional principles by presenting and evaluating positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. After providing prepared answers to competition questions, students undergo questioning in simulated legislative hearings. Competition judges include state legislators, college professors, judges, attorneys, and other community leaders.

The winning class will represent Ohio in the national finals on April 21-25 in Washington, D.C.