Who: Open to all eligible individuals under the age of 40.*
What: Essay contest on “Restoring the Constitutional Congress.” (Maximum 30 pages.)*
When: Beginning August 1, 2017; deadline for submission is January 5, 2018.
Why: To engage new thought and discussion about the proper role of the Congress.
Theme: The Federalist Papers clearly establish that the drafters of the Constitution intended the legislature to be the most powerful branch of government. In its present state, as the government operates on a day to day basis, it is not. We are left to wonder how this came to be. Were the Founders simply wrong about the inherent powers of the legislative branch? Has the institution of Congress developed practices that are not compatible with the text of the Constitution? Why are current Congressional leaders unable or unwilling to act as an effective check on the presidency? Why is Congress unable to pass a budget? Why has Congress ceded much of its authority to the executive branch and to administrative agencies? What does it mean to serve productively as a member of the House or Senate?
Prizes: The first-place winner will receive free registration, accommodations, and travel to the Federalist Society’s 2018 Student Symposium, March 9-10 in Washington, D.C. and a $5,000 cash prize. A runner-up $2,500 cash prize will be awarded and two honorable mention $1,000 cash prizes will also be awarded.*
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