The “We the Students” Civics Quiz Bowl is more than a competition—it’s a fast-paced, buzzer-based civics and leadership experience that brings core civic knowledge to life for high school students. Hosted at the Idaho State Capitol on Saturday, May 2, 2026 (approximately 8:30 AM–3:30 PM), teams will spend the day competing in a tournament format that rewards civic literacy, quick recall, teamwork, and buzzer speed.

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Teams will play in a round-robin portion first—guaranteed a minimum of three matches—before advancing into bracket play (quarterfinals and beyond). We’ll provide lunch for all participants, and we’ll host a lunch keynote as part of the day’s experience.

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To keep preparation fair and accessible across schools, we provide registered teams the full question bank and study guidance six weeks before the event—so schools don’t have to guess what to study. Questions focus on core civics and government knowledge (foundational constitutional structure and key principles), and everything teams need to prepare is included in the materials we provide.

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We’ve built the Civics Quiz Bowl to be accessible to schools of all sizes, including rural and frontier communities. There is no fee to participate, and travel stipends are available for at-need teams, so geography and budget don’t determine who gets to compete. Space is limited (up to 12 teams), and each team consists of 4 players plus up to 2 alternates, with an adult coach required.

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REGISTER YOUR TEAM NOW!

This is a chance to represent your school, sharpen your voice, and be part of something bigger—an experience that turns learning into competition and students into leaders. Teams will compete for prizes ($5,000 for 1st place; $2,000 for 2nd), and every team can expect a full, high-energy day at the Capitol with competition, lunch, and a memorable civic experience.

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Teams are limited to six students.  For more information, contact Sebastian Griffin: sgriffin@mountainstatespolicy.org

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Download our event flyer: HERE