Part F—Civic Education

§8141. Instruction on history and principles of democracy in the United States

(a) General authority

(1) Program established

(A) The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program to enhance the attainment of the third and sixth National Education Goals by educating students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights, and to foster civic competence and responsibility.

(B) Such program shall be known as "We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution".

(2) Educational activities

The program required by paragraph (1) shall—

(A) continue and expand the educational activities of the "We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution" program administered by the Center for Civic Education; and

(B) enhance student attainment of challenging content standards in civics and government.

(3) Contract or grant authorized

The Secretary is authorized to award a grant or enter into a contract with the Center for Civic Education to carry out the program described in paragraph (1).

(b) Program content

The education program authorized by this section shall provide—

(1) a course of instruction on the basic principles of our Nation's constitutional democracy and the history of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights;

(2) at the request of a participating school, school and community simulated congressional hearings following the course of study; and

(3) an annual national competition of simulated congressional hearings for secondary students who wish to participate in such program.

(c) Availability of program

The education program authorized by this section shall be made available to public and private elementary and secondary schools in the 435 congressional districts, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia.

(d) Special rule

After the provisions of subsection (b) of this section have been implemented, funds provided under this section may be used for—

(1) advanced training of teachers about the United States Constitution and the political system the United States created; or

(2) a course of instruction at the middle school level on the roles of State and local governments in the Federal system established by the Constitution, which course shall provide for—

(A) optional school and community simulated State legislative hearings;

(B) an annual competition of simulated legislative hearings at the State legislative district, State, and national levels for middle school students who wish to participate in the program; and

(C) participation by public and private middle schools in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10601, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3838.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8143 of this title.

§8142. Instruction in civics, government, and the law

(a) Program established

The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program of awarding grants and contracts to assist State and local educational agencies and other public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions to enhance—

(1) attainment by students of challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards in civics, government, and the law; and

(2) attainment by the Nation of the third and the sixth National Education Goals.

(b) Authorized activities

Assistance under this section may support new and ongoing programs in elementary and secondary schools that provide for—

(1) the development and implementation of curricular programs that enhance student understanding of—

(A) the values and principles which underlie, and the institutions and processes which comprise, our Nation's system of government;

(B) the role of law in our constitutional democracy, including activities to promote—

(i) legal literacy;

(ii) a dedication by students to the use of nonviolent means of conflict resolution such as arbitration, mediation, negotiation, trials, and appellate hearings; and

(iii) respect for cultural diversity and acceptance of cultural differences; and

(C) the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;

(2) professional development for teachers, including preservice and inservice training;

(3) outside-the-classroom learning experiences for students, including community service activities;

(4) the active participation of community leaders, from the public and private sectors, in the schools; and

(5) the provision of technical assistance to State and local educational agencies and other institutions and organizations working to further the progress of the Nation in attaining the third and sixth National Education Goals regarding civics and government.

(c) Applications, peer review and priority

(1) Submission of applications

A State or local educational agency, other public or private nonprofit agency, organization, or institution that desires to receive a grant or enter into a contract under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(2) Peer review

(A) The Secretary shall convene a panel of individuals for purpose of reviewing and rating applications submitted under paragraph (1).

(B) Such individuals shall have experience with education programs in civics, government, and the law.

(3) Priority

In awarding grants or awarding contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give priority consideration to applications which propose the operation of statewide programs.

(d) Duration of grants and exception

(1) Duration

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award grants and contracts under this section for periods of two or three years.

(2) Exception

The Secretary may award a grant or a contract under this section for a period of less than 2 years if the Secretary determines that special circumstances exist which warrant a 1-year grant or contract award.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10602, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3839.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8143 of this title.

§8143. Report; authorization of appropriations

(a) Report

The Secretary shall report, on a biennial basis to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate regarding the distribution and use of funds authorized under this part.

(b) Authorization of appropriations

(1) General

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years.

(2) Allocation

Except as provided in paragraph (3), from the amount appropriated under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall allocate—

(A) 40 percent of such amount to carry out section 8141 of this title; and

(B) 60 percent of such amount to carry out section 8142 of this title.

(3) Special rule

From funds appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make available for fiscal year 1995 and each succeeding fiscal year thereafter for the programs under sections 8141 ¹ and 8142 ¹ of this title not less than the amount made available for fiscal year 1994 to carry out such programs under sections 4609 and 1562, respectively, of this Act (as such sections were in effect on the day preceding October 20, 1994).

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10603, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3840.)

References in Text

Sections 8141 and 8142 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was in the original "sections 16101 and 16102" meaning sections 16101 and 16102 of Pub. L. 89–10, which has been translated as reading sections 10601 and 10602 of Pub. L. 89–10 to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Pub. L. 89–10 does not contain a section 16101 or 16102, and funds appropriated under subsec. (b)(1) of this section are to carry out this part which is comprised of sections 8141 and 8142 of this title.

Sections 4609 and 1562 of this Act (as such sections were in effect on the day preceding October 20, 1994), referred to in subsec. (b)(3), means sections 4609 and 1562 of Pub. L. 89–10 which were classified to sections 3156b and 2962, respectively, of this title prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3519.

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Jan. 7, 1997.

¹ See References in Text note below.