The Center helps bring law-related education directly to communities with programs such as Mock Trial, Know Your Constitution, Constitution Day, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, and many more programs. The Mock Trial Program is designed to introduce students to our legal system by providing a challenging, academic competition. The program offers students an opportunity for personal growth and achievement, emphasizing the importance of research, presentation, and teamwork. http://www.iowabar.org/?page=MockTrial
The Know Your Constitution Program administers 50 multiple choice questions and one essay question to high school students all over the state. After all quizzes are returned to the Bar Association, they are graded and 100 finalists are selected. In a typical year, approximately 2000 high school students participate in the contest. Of the 100 finalists, five are chosen at random and awarded an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for them and their teachers. http://www.iowabar.org/?page=KnowConstitution
September 17 is Constitution Day and federal law requires that every federally funded school teach about the Constitution on that day. The ISBA Center for Law and Civic Education encourages ISBA members to visit classrooms around the State in observance of Constitution Day. The ISBA provides materials to members to make their presentation more interactive with students and begin the conversation about the importance of the Constitution in our lives. http://www.iowabar.org/?page=ConstitutionDay
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy while allowing students to discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The primary goal of "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students. The design of the instructional program, including the innovative culminating activity, is what makes the program a success. The culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of judges. At the high school level, schools may participate in a State Competition, held in December, performing units before a panel of notable governmental and political leaders. The top performing high school team is eligible to attend the National Competition in Washington, D.C. http://www.iowabar.org/default.asp?page=WethePeople
