The We the People program’s culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. Teachers may engage their students in a noncompetitive simulated congressional hearing or a competitive hearing at some levels in certain states. Each year the We the People national academic competition is held in Washington, D.C., in the spring culminating with a top-ten final round in hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. In addition, a National Invitational event is held in Washington, D.C., allowing middle schools and high schools to have the same rich academic experience of presenting prepared statements on constitutional topics and responding to questions from adult judges.