-So, buddy, how is that class We the People going for you?

What are you practicing?

-Q&A, like the questions that the judges ask you.

He tells us we have to answer the question more directly.

-Mm-hmm.

-So next week we run through each one of them again, and then we go to state.

-Are you guys excited, confident for state?

-There's this school, Cheyenne South, and I think they're our biggest competitors.

But it's gonna be a lot of work.

If we win state, we go to D.C. and we compete.

It'd be really cool to go to D.C.

There's a variety of different political ideologies, you know, in my group.

-And life.

-Yeah.

True.

-Nobody can meet in the middle.

It's tearing our country apart.

We might have to make a move.

Yeah.

We got to go.

That's a nice buck.

Chase him.

-Is he a big one?

-Yeah, he is.

[ Down-tempo music plays ] ♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -Hi, guys.

Ready to rock and roll?

-We have one month and one day before competition from right now.

I'm feeling pretty stressed, honestly.

I mean, there's a lot of pressure.

The kids don't want to let me down, and I don't want to let them down.

Okay, folks.

Listen up.

We're gonna go ahead and get started.

When it comes to competition, it's pretty cutthroat.

Why is there this -- more of a push towards censorship in Republican states?

-A lot of those books that are being debated currently have LGBTQ+ ideas, and that's something that doesn't really go with the agenda that the Republican Party is trying to push.

-What do you think the most important principles of justice are?

-The most important principle of justice is probably habeas corpus and the right to know why you are being imprisoned if you are possibly being imprisoned.

-I personally would disagree.

I believe that without rule of law and an equal application of the law to the rulers of... -Today was much better.

It was cleaner.

There was more evidence.

You were speaking more directly to the questions, which I told you has been a problem.

So I really appreciate you taking what I'm telling you and at least attempting to remedy it.

That tells me that you're coachable, that you're buying in, and that you're trying to get better every time that we do this.

You made really good progress, but you got to keep going.

We got to go back to the drawing board.

Let's go!

[ Indistinct conversations ] [ Soft music plays ] -[ Laughs ] No lie.

[ Laughs ] Bye, Elias.

-Okay.

-Like the spear guy?

-Has the bell rang yet?

-Something like that.

-I do want you to think about this.

You score better as a team if you look like a team, right?

So it's really important to me that we look similar, okay?

-The A-team.

-And so, like, I don't want somebody to, like, stand out too much, 'kay?

Not that I don't believe in your individuality.

I normally do.

We don't have as many resources as Sheridan.

I don't want it to be our outfits that disqualify us, right?

Most of my kids have jobs because they have to economically help their families out.

...looks really, really nice.

The very first time I brought kids to compete, I think we were judged in many aspects on what we were wearing, and it broke my heart, 'cause we didn't have things to dress nice.

And I said, "We're not gonna do that anymore."

So I went to a business on the south side, got them to sponsor some blazers so I have full uniforms for my kids.

Yeah, go ahead.

"All rise."

You know, and then you're like, "Okay."

And then we all wait, 'kay?

Now, something I want you guys to keep in mind is your body language, 'kay?

Yes when you're competing, 'kay, sit up.

You're confident.

You guys know your crud.

How hard have we worked, right?

So be confident.

But, also, if you're in the audience, I want you to watch your body language, 'kay?

Last year I had this issue where when we were competing, the judges can see you guys, right?

And we had people last year who were like [scoffs] at people's responses.

And I'm like, "Ooh!"

Because the first thing you did is you're not being supportive of your teammate, and you just scoffed and rolled your eyes.

But now the judge has seen you, too, so you've just now cued in the judge that we did something probably wrong, 'kay?

We're all doing the same thing for the greater good.

So everybody good there?

-'Cause remember, it's "we the people," not "us the people."

-Yeah.

Amen.

Thank you Elias, yeah.

Say it with your chest, bro.

Okay.

Does everyone know how to shake hands?

Firmly grasp it, and stare them intently in the eyes to see who backs down first.

No, I'm just teasing.

[ Laughs ] The ability to overcome and practice grit and resilience is something that runs strong in all of my kids.

You want kids who've experienced life to be your next generation of problem solvers.

[ Soft music plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Mario has been M.I A. for about a month.

It's hard, 'cause we kept just, like, rooting for him, but he wasn't being a part of the team at that point.

Mario's super bright.

I just think Mario has a lot of demons and bigger issues that come into play that I have no control over.

♪♪ I don't want to kill somebody's willingness to learn.

But if he doesn't show up, I can't allow him to compete, so I've had to put him on probation.

♪♪ [ Cellphone rings ] -Hey, Mom.

Hey, Mom.

-Hi, mijo.

How are you?

-I'm doing alright, I'm doing good.

How are things over there?

How are things over there?

-Good.

Business is really, really slow.

-Recently, I had a serious lapse of judgment, did something incredibly stupid.

I drove drunk, and I hit a sign.

Totaled the car that I was driving at that moment.

-...sodas and the water.

-I blacked out, and I woke up in jail, confused and stuff.

-Mijo... -Mm-hmm.

-...let me see you.

-I'm doing fine.

I'm doing fine.

-Are you eating okay?

-I could be doing better.

I could be doing better.

I felt terrible and, like, remorseful -- genuinely remorseful, 'cause I could have hurt somebody.

I could have hurt myself.

I could have killed someone.

You know, like, something serious could have happened.

-I'm thinking maybe it's better if you come over here with us.

-Maybe.

Maybe.

I got pretty lucky.

When they arrested me, they gave me a youthful offender charge, which means the charge gets removed from my public record when I turn 18.

-But emotionally, are you okay?

-Oh, yeah.

I'm doing good.

Oh, yeah.

I'm doing good.

-You sure?

-Yeah, for sure.

Yeah, for sure.

Now I have to get an ignition-interlock restricted driver's license, which means that I have to get one of those breathalyzers installed in the car.

Yeah.

It could be worse.

Listen, Mom.

I got to go, so...

Listen, Mom.

I got to go, so... -...hijo.

Cuidate mucho.

I miss you.

-Miss you, too, Mom.

-Bye.

Love you.

-Bye.

I love you, too.

Bye.

I love you, too.

[ Dramatic music plays ] ♪♪ I'm a teenager.

We party.

That's just like -- That's something that kids do, right?

But going to jail made me, like, reflect on all that stuff.

I was like, "I really should not be touching any of this."

♪♪ There's never one term, one sentence, one page of a book that could actually explain who someone is.

I feel like you got to deeply understand them.

♪♪ Ms. Lindt was telling me, like, "I really want you to compete, but I don't know if you're gonna be able to, so, like, this is the last, like, chance I can give you."

I do like We the People, so I wanted to compete.

So it kind of hit me like, "I kind of got to get my stuff together if I want to -- like, if I want to participate, you know?"

It was just something that I realized on my own, like, "Yeah, she's right.

I need to get my stuff together."

♪♪ [ Mid-tempo music plays ] -"Hee hee!

Today is lucky for you!

Half off of, uh..." I've done theater 11, 12 years now.

I have played cello for 10 years.

I work a lot academically.

My parents are both professors at Marquette.

We are a family that believes in high-level education.

♪♪ -My full name is Journeylove.

I got the name from my mom.

She was like, "Life is full of love and a journey."

Come on, Mari.

I've lived in Milwaukee my entire life.

I grew up in a very Black neighborhood.

Despite redlining being barred in 1968, Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in America.

Being in a community where it's only people that look like you is limiting.

You, too, Mother.

At my previous school, I would say 95% of the school is Black.

Going to Wauwatosa, like, it really made me, like, code-switch and adapt.

[ Indistinct conversations ] -Obviously, creating congressional districts is a hot topic all over the place right now.

-When are we talking about racial gerrymandering, and when are we talking about political gerrymandering?

Journey?

-I feel like it's both political and racial gerrymandering.

Black people typically lean, like, blue and vote Democrat.

The people who create the maps are -- the word they used was "cracking," like, Black districts to dilute their vote.

-Okay.

Alright.

-As far as partisan gerrymandering and how to distinguish between racial and partisan gerrymandering, there is a lot of entanglement there.

-Ben is a very hardworking person.

I'm glad to be in his group somewhat.

But I feel like we kind of, like, butt heads.

I told him, "You challenge everything I say."

And he was like, "Do I?"

I was like, "Aah!"

I was like, "Exhibit 'A.'"

-Under Davis v. Bandemer, there is no jurisdiction by the courts over partisan gerrymandering, even if there is a racial element.

-Okay.

Thanks, guys.

Let's make sure we get all the clusters put back together, please.

They're groups of four, except this one is a group of five.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ] [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -I think about dropping We the People every single day, because I kind of feel out of place.

As a minority, as a woman, it's hard to get my voice out there and be confident.

I go back to why I wanted to take this class.

♪♪ -Journey just always was about her books and just wanting to learn.

She just really felt like she wanted to be something strong.

When Obama was in office, she's like, "Well, how come there hasn't been any woman president ever?"

And, then, in her mind, she's like, "Well, I'm going to be President."

-I have AP Lit homework.

-She stood up and just been wanting to take charge.

♪♪ -Have any of you watched your district video?

-We did.

[ Recording plays indistinctly ] -So right there, Ethan answered the question, alright?

So he gave evidence, and then he puts the reasoning at the end.

That's where you win state, is, like, not answering it, not giving the evidence, but how do you end it?

-When we won first place, I was so happy.

Like, all our hard work had paid off.

-The Supreme Court.

-But at the same time, I feel like I kind of faltered a little bit.

We got our scores back, and we were like nines across the board.

And then it was just one judge... -What role does the federal judiciary... -See?

I look angry.

I'm not smiling.

-A little bit.

-Okay.

-A little bit.

-Okay.

-You just look very focused.

-The number-one rule is you do not say "sorry" when you slip up.

You keep going, and you move forward.

That was my biggest mistake.

I get so hard on myself because I'm like, "You know this.

You know what you're supposed to be doing."

I know what I believe in, and I want to defend that.

[ Dramatic music plays ] -In order to do that, you have to come with confidence, because you have to be correct.

So you can't falter.

I'm defending human rights.

I'm defending abortion.

I'm defending the rights of LGBTQ people, I'm defending the rights of immigrants.

In order to do that, I have to remember all of those facts.

I have to remember all those numbers, statistics, dates.

♪♪ My head's like a little library.

So, like, we're in my head, and it's just like these bookshelves -- there's aisles, like women's rights, racial issues, gender issues, Nigerian issues, international politics.

Like, right now, I'm just walking towards the education section.

Nevada is actually 47th in education.

Okay, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce did a study and surveyed and said that people post-COVID stayed -- 27% of people post-COVID stayed home because they had someone to take care of.

28% of people said post-COVID that they had to take care of themselves.

In August of 2023, 3.6 million people left their jobs, and it was referred to as quit talk... We spend $4,000 in comparison to the rest of the world.

With jobs there is a 1.7 million missing gap.

The highest rate of drunk drivers.

It employs 9.6 million people.

The highest rate of teen pregnancy.

One out of three people do not have access to childcare.

And...yeah.

That's one of the few that I know.

-We won't have anything to do on that, but... Alright.

How's everyone feeling?

-Good.

-Right now, you're just trying to build your confidence.

You're prepared.

You know what you're talking about.

And, then, the more that you can just go with that.

-Okay.

I have a question.

So, do you think it's possible that a partisan Congress could leverage this to undermine votes from states that they don't want?

-Well, we already see this happening, with the fact that the Supreme Court refuses to step in.

-January is a crazy race to the finish line.

All across the country, you've got teams just like mine that are scrambling, pushing it to the limits, 'cause they all want a chance at the national title.

The state competition is just this huge moment.

-A lot of my stress goes into the preparation for the state competition, because then it's over if we don't advance.

-I feel some of that pressure.

"Gosh.

What if this is the year that we don't advance to nationals?

-You can't fake it.

You really have to be good.

-We're talking about losing by the smallest of margins or winning by the smallest of margins -We didn't even make it to state my first year here.

But then I was like, "We're coming back with a vengeance."

-It gets tougher every year.

You know, teachers get better.

Schools get more competitive.

-You may have a stellar, amazing group of students, but someone else may have an even more stellar and amazing group of students.

-Everybody wants to win, and that's just the way it is.

-♪ Bom bom bom bom, bom bom bom bom ♪ ♪ Bom bom bom bom, bom bom bom bom ♪ ♪ Bom bom bom bom, bom bom bom bom ♪ ♪ Bom bom bom bom ♪ -I think we're all just facing a general exhaustion from repeated, like, information.

So I think we should calm down.

-This is unit bonding time.

Yeah.

-Maggie Walker has a history.

25 years is a long legacy.

-And now we have to kind of prove ourselves.

-Talk about how people... -We've pretty much been having a practice round every day and prepping for states by, like, really beefing up our study guide.

-For the general election... -It's intense, but I have never felt smarter in my life.

-Can I tell you guys some of the random things that I pulled up that I feel like I should share with everyone?

-You should.

-One thing is the cube rule.

Do we know what this is?

'Cause I did not know what this is.

-The what?

-Cube rule.

Like a square, but in 3D.

[ Chuckles ] Sorry.

-[ Chuckles ] -We're passionate for learning in a very nerdy way, and all we talk about is the Constitution.

-But do you have the scholar that came up with this rule?

'Cause that would make it even more impactful.

-We have so many scholars.

-Like, established by... Mr.

Guy.

-My unit, they drive me, 100%.

-Nixon versus Fitzgerald's like, "The consequences of your actions you can't be prosecuted..." -It's not presidential immunity.

-If it's ever brought up, I have the actual Roman history behind it, because it's a Roman principle.

It is the reason Rome fell down.

-Don't get too rabbit-hole with it.

-Yeah.

If I'm gonna mention it, I'll just say destruction of -- -It's good evidence, but it's quick evidence.

-The destruction of democracy, because it allowed the executive to become a dictator.

-I disagree with this.

[ Indie rock music plays ] [ Dogs barking ] ♪♪ -Alrighty.

I am exhausted, stressed, mentally drained.

I am pretty sure I am talking about the Senate in my sleep these days.

[ Dog barking ] -What we got?

-Pasta with green beans.

Got a plate.

-Nice.

How was your day?

How's the competition?

-Stressful.

We have had so many practice rounds this week -- at least one or two a day.

-During school or after school?

-Both.

-My dad has said he'll try to be there.

Question two is not my favorite.

Question...

I know he'll be going back and forth between Glen Allen and Maggie Walker throughout the day.

I've tried to convince him to tell me how his unit four does, but he's refusing.

That's our argument.

Keep it quiet from your team.

-I won't tell them.

[ Laughs ] We'll still beat you.

-I hope my dad will be there just so I can show off a little bit, prove that I actually do know what I'm talking about.

I was not lying to you.

-How you doing today?

-I love you, I love you.

-Keep us posted.

-Alright, thank you.

-Have fun.

-Okay.

Wave out the window.

We're leaving.

-Bye!

-Bye!

[ Mid-tempo music plays ] ♪♪ -Listen up!

I want you to relax and have fun till we get to Casper.

But once we eat lunch, we're fully engaged, understand?

-Okay.

-So if you want to go to sleep or listen to music or talk... [ Soft music plays ] ♪♪ -We're trying to get kids to think.

How is the 3/5 compromise connected to to the electoral college?

-They have more representation in the House, so they have more members in the House.

-It's the best part of teaching We the People.

It's really getting kids to think about their own ideas about these different topics.

And these are hard topics.

-Which is why slavery didn't end in 1808 like it was supposed to.

You got to do a lot of work on your own They screwed up big-time.

And you got to figure out both sides, because the judges are gonna say, "Well, you said this, but what's the other side's gonna say?

So it's not enough to just know your side.

You have to know it all the way around.

-This is why the Senate is not representing the states, and this is why the House should only -- -Senators now, they're appealing just to their voters to get votes...

I think that teaching students to critically think about government... -Who should regulate the second amendment?

-...helps them better find their way into society.

I think last time I checked...

I just want to create better citizens, better thinkers, more engaged citizens.

That to me is much more important than anything else.

♪♪ -It's 10 minutes in your life, okay?

Get out of the gates hot.

Say something to begin with so then you're not thinking during Q&A, "Oh, my God, I need to talk.

Oh, my God, I need to talk," okay?

I will outwork and outwork and outwork till I get the result that I want with the kids.

I want two examples of maybe states or specific districts that have banned books.

-New York.

They banned "Slaughterhouse-Five," "Down The Mean Street."

They banned 11 books.

This was directly what Pico -- -So you have one.

Do you want to do another one?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

-So we're gonna split it, me and -- -Yeah.

So you have yours, and then Audrey will come up with another one.

-I'll memorize all these books.

They've banned 11 books.

We're all very concise and well-integrated.

We're not really having too many dramas other than, like, Mario not showing up to class and a couple of people procrastinating.

That's why Ms. Lindt thinks we're going to nationals this year.

[ Soft music plays ] ♪♪ -Okay.

So let's move one over.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Mario came in, and I sat down with him, and I was like, "I almost cut you."

And he's like, "I know."

-Mario, give me a second.

I'll get you your binder.

-Hey.

Tomorrow, be here at 6:45.

It's at the Capitol.

Okay?

-Okay.

-I asked his team before he showed up.

I'm like, "Do you want Mario to compete tomorrow?"

And they were like, "Yeah, because I do think he provides a different perspective than we have."

So I gave him one more chance.

I kept just extending the olive branch.

Alright.

Ready?

-Yeah.

-How do we achieve democracy with so much diversity today?

-In the world's third-biggest country, there just simply isn't a way for everyone to get what they want out of politics if it's being ran in a centralized area, like Washington D.C. controls the entirety of the U.S... -Mario Antuñez -- that's a really smart kid.

He's definitely an asset to unit three.

-Would you have been a Federalist or an Anti-Federalist and why?

-I suppose I would have been an Anti-Federalist because I just don't want a large government in my business.

-[ Laughs ] -Yeah, agreed.

I like my rights.

I like them where they're at.

-I would like to disagree.

I would like to be a Federalist, as I believe that the system of checks and balances would prohibit any form of national government to prohibit my rights.

-I would like to build on what my colleague said by further disagreeing.

Part of why I actually dislike the federal government being so powerful is because of the massive amounts of grievances it's put on other groups of people that we also just ignore because they're not Americans.

We see this with the invasion of Iraq or the invasion of Afghanistan.

And it's allowed because we have such a powerful government.

-Nice.

Great job coming out of the gates, Mario.

That was good.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ] -Come on, guys.

Let's go.

[ Clapping ] -Examples of restrictions on freedom of religion.

-Reynolds v. U.S. -Caucuses like what?

-The Congressional Black Caucus.

-Bicameralism.

-Two houses in a legislative body.

-How many senators?

-Two.

-Social contract.

-Covenants with God.

-American Democracy.

-The Magna Carta.

-Fed 10.

-Ratification.

Federalists.

-The Protestant Reformation.

-Luther.

-Tensions that arise from bicameralism.

-Funding for Israel.

-Student freedom of speech.

-Tinker v. Des Moines.

-Censorship.

-The Dixie Chicks.

-Good job.

Go.

Get out of here.

Keep prepping.

Good job.

[ Dramatic music plays ] [ Soft music plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -Typically, on a week where we're preparing for competition, I'm putting anywhere between 20 to 40 extra hours a week.

♪♪ It's hard, because I don't have boundaries.

And, like, I try to explain it to my husband, I'm like, "It's my core.

It's just who I am."

♪♪ -Like, I'll get off, and I'll want to go do something.

I'll want to go eat dinner.

I'll want to go to a movie on Friday night.

And she can't always do that.

She's got to do her stuff at work.

- It's frustrating to him, because in many ways, his love language is time, and I feel like I can never satisfy that.

I know you're pissed.

And I don't think Chris understands it, because to him, it is a job.

And I can't separate myself from it.

♪♪ -Every season we go through it.

And I know you're passionate about it and you love it, but... -Okay.

I'm sorry.

I'm kind of one-track mind on everything I have to get done.

And then my life goes back to normal when this is over.

-Unless you make it to nationals.

-Yeah.

-And then we're in it for four more months.

-You know it's gonna be busy in November, and you know it's gonna be busy in December.

And I thought we had it figured out, and, like, I hate having this discussion over and over again.

-If you ask Erin, she'll say it's her last year.

She says she's done, but I don't think it's anything she can ever give up.

-I would like to say, like, I'm gonna put less effort in it, but I know myself and I can't turn it off.

-It's not putting less effort in.

it's finding a balance.

-[ Sighs ] Do I know balance with anything?

I'm like an all-or-nothing kind of person.

It's just who I am.

-We'll get through this year, and we'll figure out next year later.

♪♪ -The first big snow of the season.

Southeast Wisconsin is bracing for it.

Between heavy snow and strong winds, poor visibility poses risks on the road.

-It's been a stressful 24 hours.

Well, honestly, it's been a stressful week.

We've been at school every day at 6:00 a.m. before our first-hour period kicks in so we can get extended time together.

Okay.

So, guys, let's do a unit check-in real quick.

Fatigue is starting to kick in, and then the uncertainty of the competition.

...whether we have everyone accounted for.

Tomorrow, if the weather is gonna start to take a turn for the worse, they're only gonna maybe do one round.

And that is gonna determine the winner of the competition.

-In this class, they put a lot of pressure on us, because they've won 18 out of 19 state competitions.

And I really don't want to be the second out of 20 years to lose.

-Let's embrace our philosophy just for a second.

Trust our process.

We prepare ourselves to be ready to compete no matter what that looks like, in person, online.

Our job -- -I'm a very competitive person.

I go into competition mode, and I really lock in and, like, get the job done.

And I want to go to D.C.

I want to experience that.

-I have all the confidence in the world that you guys, going into tomorrow, no matter what form we're gonna do it in tomorrow.

You know everything that you need to know to be dangerous.

Go home, relax, and just wait for the word as to what we're doing, how we're doing it, and where we're doing it.

[ Rock music plays ] ♪♪ -Hey!

[ Laughter ] -And we're gonna go to Reno.

-3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

-Welcome to Southwest Airlines.

I'm feeling ecstatic, bro.

I guess we're at the plane now.

♪♪ -On behalf of Southwest Airlines, we would like to welcome you to Reno.

♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] [ Alarm clock ringing ] -[ Speaking indistinctly ] -Do you want to spray some in your hair?

-I brought a clip for my hair.

-Okay.

-"Legally Blonde" is the most influential movie in the United states.

The message behind it is quite amazing.

She's not mean, and she literally proves everybody wrong 'cause -- You know, and she just does it looking amazing in cute, pink outfits, which that is such an inspirational message.

-Truly.

-Like, I think I'm, like, most nervous for is just, like, the questions.

Like, what kind of questions are they gonna ask?

-I think it'll be good for us to have some adversity.

Yeah.

Okay.

-Exactly.

-Is that good?

Ready?

-Yeah.

-Is there a dance at this thing or just at nationals?

-It's nationals.

-Oh.

Shame.

-Kena and I saw some really cute boys.

-See, the good part about the tie is it always evolves.

In the beginning, it's not looking too great.

Towards the end, it gets a little better.

-That's just like We The People.

It doesn't start out great, but it ends amazing.

-Let's roll.

-Oh, there he is -- the man, the myth, the legend -- Michael Thomas in the flesh.

[ Dramatic music plays ] [ Indistinct conversations ] -I'm feeling emotional.

-Stop.

I'll start crying.

-I think this group is just -- has been so special.

And no matter what happens, be proud of yourselves.

-Bro, why'd you have to say that?

[ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -What I'm most worried about is the other schools up north, like Reno High School.

The competition is stiff.

-Ready?

1...2...3.

-[ Singing indistinctly ] -Being closer to the legislature, having that kind of generational support -- -Red, Blue!

Reno, Huskies!

Whoo!

[ Applause ] -Good morning!

-Good morning!

-Good morning!

-I know today is gonna be an incredible day.

I can just feel... -There is a competition between north and south, but really just Vegas and Reno.

We have more diversity because we are like an epicenter for immigration.

-Our community tends to be more of a first-generation, just foot-in-the-door kind of team.

[ Applause ] -Make sure your phones are on do not disturb.

[ Suspenseful music plays ] ♪♪ -What advice would you be providing to some of our leaders in terms of their international relations at this point?

-An overwhelming majority of Americans are antiwar.

We don't stand for this, and we would like to call for a ceasefire.

-I was scared.

I knew I had to be more interpersonal with the judges instead of being so, like, standoffish.

-Do we as a nation emphasize individual rights to the detriment of our social responsibilities?

-The First, Third, and Fourth Amendments of our U.S. Bill of Rights all protect individual rights, declaring the freedom of expression such as speech, press, and religion.

-Reno High School -- like, yeah, they were polished.

But when you're cross-examining our team, you're gonna get, like, real passion about the subject.

You're gonna get personality sprinkled in there.

-I don't know if you can see how excited my group is, but this is something we heavily discuss.

-What might the framers have to say about what's going on today?

-I think the framers would be absolutely appalled at what's happening today, because they specifically included mechanisms in our Constitution to avoid the political gridlock that we see today.

There is an amendment process that exists in Article Five... -We were all pulling up things that we had all studied that the other person didn't know we had studied.

-Anti-imperialist Mark Twain once said that we have gone there to conquer, not to redeem.

-When Jonathan pulled out that Mark Twain quote, all of us were like, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"

-What steps should the United States be taking in order to continue our Bill of Rights be used as an impact in the world?

-We as a nation should not impose ourselves onto people.

In Nigeria, there was a very heavy... -Our entire team just had, like, a lot of spot-on responses.

Like, they just really hit the nail on the head.

-And while we continue to be a beacon of democracy in the world, we should be a stencil, not a pen.

-"America should be a stencil, not a pen."

Everybody was just wowed by that.

it really just gave us confidence that, like, I think we have what it takes to win this thing.

-Fabulous job.

I truly enjoyed that.

-It was like a dance.

Didn't always agree, but you kept going.

You scaffolded your ideas.

Our future is in good hands.

- Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ -How are you guys feeling right now?

-Yeah!

Really good!

[ Dramatic music plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -I was nervous.

Couldn't contain my anxiety.

-Alright.

Here we go.

♪♪ -You ready?

Unit one goes to... ♪♪ ...Reno High School!

[ Cheers and applause ] -When we heard the first unit announcement, we were like... [ Exhales sharply ] "We're all cooked."

Because unit one is, like, our best unit.

-I am so honored to give unit two award to Reno High School.

[ Cheers and applause ] -And then you hear the second one, and you're like, "Okay.

Well, that's upsetting."

-Okay.

Unit three... goes to Reno High School!

[ Cheers and applause ] -When we heard Reno win for the third time, we were like, "Okay.

They swept.

They're gonna go to nationals, not us."

-I'm trying.

-I think I see where this is going.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Unit 6 goes to Reno High School.

[ Cheers and applause ] -I really had believed up to that point that Southwest had a chance at the nationals.

-Alright.

I'm gonna need a drum roll here.

Ready?

-Um, I think we know.

-Yeah.

I mean, I don't think the suspense... -Our state champion for Nevada is... Reno High School!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Dramatic music plays ] Let's go, Huskies!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -I'm not gonna be the type of person who's like, "This is the worst day of my life!

I tried, tried, so, so hard!"

Like, I know I tried hard.

Everybody here tried hard.

-I could just be, you know, trying to, like, cope with my loss, but I kind of wish the judges had factored in, like, the human element into it more.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Drums beating ] [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -There you go.

You look good.

-You know more than most American citizens now at this point.

Don't stress.

You've done the hard work.

So close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

Okay.

I want you to imagine tonight, 'kay?

You guys are going to kill it.

At the end of the day, all that I care is that you guys have grown.

And every year, I say this is my best team yet.

This is my best team yet.

This is my seventh year, and I have to tell you, this is my best team yet.

Yeah.

-You have to show what you know.

We're at that point.

Trust what you've been taught to do, and you're gonna be just awesome.

-Finale.

Let's go.

Lay it out on the table, guys.

You got this.

You prepped.

You're ready to go.

Let's do it.

-Just take a deep breath.

You'll be fine.

-Mario Atunez, if you can hear me, you are allowed to have one Dr. Pepper.

[ Down-tempo music plays ] -That's so annoying.

-All rise!

-The switch is seamless for me.

This is like normal me.

I'm all hanging out, like, just sitting back, relaxed.

And then, like, professional Elias is like, "I'm sitting up straight.

I'm looking at you straight in the eye.

Yes.

Yes, sir.

I got you, sir.

This is how it's gonna go."

Boom, boom, bam.

♪♪ -Our question today -- the United States Supreme Court recently ruled that under the Second Amendment, firearms regulations must be, "Consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Do you agree?

-Your right to own guns is very well a private matter, in my opinion.

It is important that we keep our privacies to ourselves with our laws that we make.

-Do you guys think that having our two-party system is the right way to be?

-Competing was a little nerve-wracking, 'cause I'd never been in that type of environment before.

-For that exact reason, I want to disagree with my colleague.

You know, you have to come up with quick rebuttals to the questions they're going to ask you.

I just tried to keep my cool and keep my thoughts concise and short.

-We're so polarized that we refuse to see eye-to-eye with each other, and it's hard for anything to get done in the government with the current state of our factionalized government.

- Are there benefits for restricting access to certain books that you believe outweigh concerns about free speech?

-The more important thing here is the student's right to education and the student's access to library materials.

-We have an opt-out policy that requires the book in question to be read by the parent.

-We could use the Miller test with these certain books, which has three prongs.

The first is if people do not find it appropriate.

Number two would be if it is overtly sexual in any way, like "Fifty Shades of Grey."

And finally, the third prong is if it has educational, literary, artistic, or historical value.

-Great.

Good job.

[ Applause ] [ Dramatic music plays ] -Let's go sit down in the auditorium.

-Okay.

-Ladies and gentlemen, teachers, coaches, and, most importantly, the bright and talented high-school students in this room... -Wyoming is fortunate in that we have a wild card to the national competition.

That means that our top two teams will receive invitation to compete at nationals.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Scoring in first place for Wyoming We the People 2023... ...congratulations... ...to Sheridan High School.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Good job, Sheridan!

[ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ In second place... [ Mid-tempo music plays ] Cheyenne South High School.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ We are the champions ♪ -Okay.

You guys better start packing your bags.

-♪ ...are the champions ♪ -We kicked butt because of Ms. Lindt.

We kicked our own butts so that we could kick butt.

-Whoo!

-We scored higher than East.

We scored higher than Central.

♪♪ That silver looks gold to us.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ] ♪♪ -Hi!

Thank you.

Hi.

-I'm glad you're here.

Hey.

-[ Speaks indistinctly ] -Yes.

♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] -So, here's what we're gonna do.

Read your statement.

Go over any last anticipated follow-up questions.

-You want to make sure that obviously, you set the tone.

Make sure everyone is good on quotes.

[ Video call plays indistinctly ] Cases and quotes, you really want to enunciate those things, because those are the things that the judges are looking for.

-We're having trouble.

We're having logistical problems getting the judges together.

So I'm gonna have to cancel, and you will get more official information via e-mail I think shortly.

This commute with the snowstorm is affecting everybody, so... - [ Groans ] [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -Basically, the weather just was not cooperating.

This isn't where the road ends, though.

You put all this work in, and we'll be ready to go whenever they ask us to be ready to go, right?

We're gonna be in-person.

We're not gonna be in person.

We're gonna be on Zoom.

We're gonna do one question only.

We're canceled.

Life throws you curveballs, and you just adapt and overcome.

♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -Big, black bugs bleed blue-black blood.

Big, black bugs bleed blue... -Big, black bugs bleed blue-black blood.

Nervousness and adrenaline.

Is it gonna be good?

It'll be fine.

It'll be fine, hopefully.

My dad, my mom, and my sisters are all sitting in the room.

-Alright.

Good afternoon, everybody.

-Good afternoon.

-How we doing?

Alright.

This is Maggie Walker, unit four.

Is that correct?

-Yeah.

I'm Caden Van Valkenburg.

-I'm Natalie Xue.

-I'm Emma Notarnicola.

-I'm Rehaan Jain.

-I take it from the Van Valkenburg that there's a whole bunch of competition anxiety here, like, a little -- -I was like, "Take a deep breath, try to, like, get my face back in order," 'cause calming myself is just nearly impossible.

-Can you explain the 17th Amendment and how it can be used for corruption?

And citing the exact... -My least favorite question.

This is not something that's got, like, a legal question so much as it is, like, the moral, ethical question.

[ Suspenseful music plays ] -Now senators have to worry about money when it comes to elections and managing to get out the word of their campaign, which leaves them more vulnerable to the influence of lobbying groups and super PACs.

♪♪ I could just see judges nodding along, and it was just like, "Yes.

I think our point kind of just, like, landed.

-How do we prevent from the court to essentially side with whatever the President does, because he's the one that gave him their job?

-There are some small checks on this, such as the fact that Supreme Court judges have a lifetime appointment, meaning that they don't need to follow that president's commands, because they still will hold their jobs no matter what they do.

-Really did a good job.

-Thank you.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -How did the courts or Congress attempt to limit Lincoln's power during the Civil War?

And were they successful?

-Congress was actually in recess so Lincoln made this decision with the Legislative Branch completely not being there.

However, the court ruled that both actions were unconstitutional.

-The Court decided that Congress did not have to baptize it with a name.

-And so it kind of dictates the idea that the court is kind of a reactive body.

-The Executive has the power of the sword.

Congress has the power of the purse.

Yet the Judicial Branch has the power of mere judgment.

-We see this even in Trump vs. Hawaii.

-Do you think that presidential power and privilege should extend beyond the term in office?

-When you commit a crime that is not related to your job as president, you should not have immunity.

-We were just on fire.

We were locked in.

We were answering every single question with evidence that we had gathered over weeks of hard work.

-I felt like you were like James Madison.

You came to the party prepared.

-[ Laughs ] -Right?

Excellent.

[ Applause ] [ Dramatic music plays ] -We killed it.

It's our best performance, like, ever.

♪♪ [ Suspenseful music plays ] [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -Alright.

The scores can go to Jen.

-40.

-Yes.

-42.

-Yes.

-40.

-Yes.

49.

37.

♪♪ -Fascinating.

-Just to be doubly sure, can we double-check everything?

-Yes, we can.

Who do you want to check first?

-Publias first.

We're gonna go through the whole stack.

-Okay.

[ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ -Internally, I'm basically repeating two sentences.

One, "We've got this.

We'll do fine."

And the other one is, "But what if we don't do fine?"

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -We will recognize the first- through fifth-place teams in reverse order.

For fifth- and fourth-place teams, please stand where you are and be recognized.

Fifth place goes to Western Albemarle High School.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ -Fourth place goes to... ♪♪ ...Maggie Walker Governor's School.

-[ Gasps ] [ Applause ] ♪♪ -There's a collective gasp.

-Back down.

-Ouch.

-The team's shocked.

Mr. U's shocked.

Everyone from Glen Allen's shocked.

I'm shocked.

-Please come to the stage.

-And it's just like, "What just happened?"

-Third place goes to Freeman... -It was very... still.

[ Cheers and applause ] You're trying to compose yourself, and it's kind of robotic in a way.

-We're excited to announce that Virginia has a wildcard invitation to the national finals, so our second-place team also can attend this wonderful event.

[ Cheers and applause ] Second place goes to... Glen Allen High School.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Oh, my God!

-Our Virginia state high school We the People champion is... Douglas Freeman.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Yeah!

[ Down-tempo music plays ] ♪♪ -While our competition is over, your civic contributions do not end today.

In fact, this is just the beginning.

Thank you, and good afternoon to you all.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] -We don't need to stare at...

Okay.

We need to wait for Mr. U.

We need to wait for Mr. U.

♪♪ -Yeah.

Okay.

♪♪ -No, it's not it.

We spent all year together.

It's not it.

-Yeah.

-Constitutional knowledge of the depth that you gain in We The People is not something that you can simply cast aside.

It's not like a consolation prize.

♪♪ It's nice to know that all the hard work that we put in is still there.

And it's also good to experience disappointment.

But this disappointment hasn't necessarily broken me or made me swear off constitutional law in any way.

-You should be proud of yourself.

-I want to do it again.

♪♪ [ Rock music plays ] -And how's audio in here?

Is it less echo-y?

♪♪ -What was that?

-Yeah, you're good.

-You're good.

-Hello, judges.

Can you hear us?

-We can hear you.

Good evening.

-Well, okay.

I'll cut to the chase.

You guys won.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Congratulations.

And we'll see you at nationals.

[ Dramatic music plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪