ABA sponsors student video competition marking Magna Carta

The American Bar Association is inviting high school students and youth groups to participate in a video contest celebrating Magna Carta's 800th anniversary.

Considered the foundation of such Anglo-American concepts as the rule of law, due process, trial by one's peers, and constitutionalism, Magna Carta's origins and legacy have influenced the growth of representative constitutional democracy not only in England and America, but the world over. The 800th anniversary of the document's sealing in June is being recognized in many ways, but perhaps most creatively by the 2014-2015 ABA Magna Carta Video Competition.

Sponsored by the ABA; its Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division; and the Center for Teaching the Rule of Law; and cosponsored by the ABA Young Lawyers Division; Law Student Division; and Division for Public Education, the competition invites student teams to create a video of not more than 15 minutes celebrating the Magna Carta anniversary. Participants are encouraged to use their creativity, research skills, and dramatic and technical abilities to create videos that answer the question: "Magna Carta: What's So Great about the 'Great Charter'?"

The competition is open to students in grades 9-12 or the equivalent, attending a public or private high school or home school within the United States. Teams should consist of 2-6 students, plus one adult - a teacher, coach or team parent. Team members, including the adult, must be legal U.S. residents.

Team members should read as much as they can about Magna Carta, the historical antecedents to the document, and the political and social conditions of the 13th century. Students should give careful consideration to the manner of their presentation and, once their research is completed, write a script to guide them as they create their video.

The ABA and the Center for Teaching the Rule of Law will select one winner and one or more runners-up. The winning team will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., April 13- 15, 2015. Competition entries will be accepted from October 1, 2014 through January 15, 2015. Typical contest rules, such as submitted videos being original and the competition's sponsors selecting the winner in their sole discretion, apply. For more information and the complete set of rules, please go to www.AmBar.org/ABAVideoCompetition.

Published: Fri, Sep 26, 2014

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