- Match your wits with Spokane County's best and brightest civics and history high school students.

It's "Civics Bowl 2024".

We're back for our third season.

10 area high school teams will go head to head, but only one will bring home the trophy.

(bright music) - [Announcer] "Civics Bowl" is made possible by Eastern Washington University, the Avista Foundation, the League of Women Voters of the Spokane Area and of Washington, and by viewers like you.

(bright music) - Hello, the teams are ready and so are we.

I'm your host and President and General Manager of KSPS, Gary Stokes.

Ahead tonight, four rounds of tough questions and a chance for you to see if you can compete with these students.

Now here's a look at the bracket.

Ridgeline won the first match, Liberty claimed the second match, and in round three, Ferris won over Lewis & Clark.

Now we're ready for round four, Rogers and Shadle face off to see who moves closer to bringing home bragging rights and the trophy.

Let's meet each team now.

Up first, Rogers High School, Jeremiah?

- Hi, I'm Jeremiah Audet.

- I'm Adrian.

- I'm Jack Curry.

- I'm Evan Teague.

- Thank you very much, we also wanna thank the Rogers alternate, Michael Gunn, as well as Coach Michelle Brooks, and now the team from Shadle, Jo?

- I'm Jo.

- I'm Rachel Jones.

- I'm Liam Newell.

- And I'm Ahren Reinhardt.

- And in the audience, we have Shadle's alternate, Vincent Plaster, and their Coach Mark Miller.

Up first, the toss up round.

We provided the teams with rules and there's a copy for those watching at home online at KSPS.

In a nutshell, I'll ask a toss up question to all the players.

Only after I finish can a student buzz in with an answer.

The right answer means the winning team gets a bonus question, and you are encouraged to collaborate with your teammates only on the bonus question.

Teams, are you ready?

Here we go.

What state elected the first woman representative to Congress?

(gentle music) (buzzer blaring) Montana.

The Reapportionment Act of 1929 established what as the permanent size of the House of Representatives?

(buzzer beeping) Rachel?

- 435.

- That is correct, and here's your bonus.

What do we call drawing oddly shaped legislative districts for partisan advantage?

- Gerrymandering.

- That is correct, and now toss up, both teams.

What do we call the law-making branch of the federal government?

(buzzer beeping) Jo?

- The legislative branch.

- That would be correct and here's your bonus.

Federalist Paper Number 47 written by James Madison argues that the separation of powers is not meant to be absolute, but is an effective system of what?

(gentle music continues) - Democracy?

- Checks and balances.

Here's the next toss up, former city councilwoman Candace Mumm has your next toss up question.

- Spokane City Council is made up of a council president and six members who live in one of three different districts in the city for a total of seven members.

The council president is elected by the entire city and runs the council meetings.

But what is the title of the person who runs the meeting if the president can't make it?

(buzzer beeping) - Jo?

- That would be the vice president.

- That is incorrect.

(buzzer blaring) The backup plan, each January, all seven members vote for that year's substitute to sit in for the council president.

How does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment limit states' powered attacks?

(gentle music continues) (buzzer blaring) By forbidding text classifications based on race, religion, nationality, political party membership, or other unreasonable factors.

Here's your next toss up.

How do city county governments finance large construction projects, such as highways, schools and sports facilities?

(buzzer beeping) Jo?

- They request a...

I'm trying to think, they request money from like the federal government.

- That is incorrect, Rogers?

(buzzer beeping) Jack?

- Through a levy?

- Also incorrect.

By issuing state or local bonds sold to investors.

Toss up, multiple choice.

The first national census was held in 1790.

What was the population of the United States at that time?

About 1 million people, about 4 million people, about 5 million people?

(buzzer beeping) Rachel?

- 1 million.

- [Gary] That is incorrect, Rogers?

(buzzer beeping) Evan?

- 4 million people?

- That is correct, and here's your bonus.

What is the most basic definition and duty of a citizen?

(gentle music continues) (buzzer blaring) Someone who holds rights and responsibilities.

Here's your toss up, both teams.

Who are the government rulers under a theocracy?

(buzzer beeping) Evan?

- Religious leaders?

- That is correct, here's your bonus.

What form of government had become most prevalent in Europe by the late 1400s?

(buzzer beeping) Jack?

- Monarch?

- That is correct and that is the end of that round.

Great job, teams, and here's a quick look at the score.

We are tied at 30.

We'll be back in a moment to get to know the players and play the head-to-head round.

(audience applauding) (bright music) - [Announcer] Last week, we asked you which president was buried beneath a sprig of a willow cut from a tree at Napoleon's tomb?

The answer is Andrew Johnson.

He died in 1875, his remains were wrapped in an American flag made of silk with his copy of the US Constitution placed under his head as he requested.

(bright music) - We'd like to take a moment to get to know our players and their schools a little better.

So we've asked each school to produce a video for "Civics Bowl", here's Shadle's.

(cheerful bagpipe music) - [All] Hi, we're the Shadle Park Civics Bowl team.

(upbeat rocky music) (upbeat rocky music continues) (upbeat rocky music continues) - Excellent video, excellent video.

So now let's hear from each of you, what's your class year and your favorite hobby?

- I am Jo Caslow, I am a senior and my favorite hobby is doing digital art.

- [Gary] Okay, Rachel?

- I'm Rachel Jones, I'm part of the 2024 graduating class and my favorite hobbies are speech and debate and then taking care of plants.

- [Gary] Liam?

- I'm Liam Newell, class of 2024 and running is probably my favorite hobby.

- [Gary] Ahren?

- I am part of class of 2024 and my favorite hobby is gaming.

- Nice, and now let's meet the Rogers players.

- Hi, my name's John Hammil, Principal of John R. Rogers High School here in Northeast Spokane, the home of the Pirates.

We're a school of 1,500 students, the most diverse school in the Spokane region and we pride ourselves on our diversity.

John R. Rogers' motto is Familia Sumus, where we are a true family, supporting our students of achieving their dreams, of preparing for college and career readiness.

Our motto supports us as we go about our day of being relentless, our students are relentless on the field, in the classroom, and in the knowledge bowl that you're gonna see here today.

- Good luck, Civics.

- Good luck, Civics.

- Good luck, Rogers Civics Bowl, go get 'em, be relentless.

- Well done, well done.

(audience applauding) Now, players, same question to you, Jeremiah, what's your class year and what are your hobbies when you're not doing homework?

- I am a junior and my favorite hobby would probably be talking to legislators on my off time.

- [Gary] Nice, Adrian?

- Hello, my name's Adrian Ramngen, I'm a senior and my favorite hobby is writing.

- [Gary] Jack?

- I'm a senior and my favorite hobby are writing and acting.

- [Gary] Evan?

- I'm Evan Teague, I'm a senior, and my favorite hobby is building model aircraft.

- Nice, thank you for being here, teams.

We're gonna get back to the match with the head-to-head round coming up next.

But first, a thank you to Spokane Branch of the League of Women Voters.

Their volunteers prepared hundreds of questions for this competition and we couldn't do this without them.

Thank you for your hard work.

And now we look ready for the head-to-head round.

(bright music) It's now time for the head-to-head round.

Again, we've got the rules online so you can follow along.

Here's a quick look at them.

You still need to wait until I finish asking the question before you buzz in, each right answer is worth 10 points, and players cannot work together to find the answer.

If the wrong answer is given, the other team can answer without buzzing in.

Let's remind everyone of the score and it is tied at 30.

Are you ready?

Let's go.

Who chairs the National Security Council?

(buzzer beeping) - The Secretary of Defense?

- Incorrect.

- The President of the United States?

- That is correct, next.

What would Congress be required to do if the draft was to be reactivated?

(buzzer beeping) - Go through Congress.

- That is correct, next.

Does the Supreme Court consider execution by electric chair in death penalty cases a cruel or unusual punishment?

(buzzer beeping) - Yes.

- That is incorrect.

- No.

- Correct, next.

Which Supreme Court case ruled that corporations have as much right as individual American citizens to share their opinions during an election?

(intriguing music) (buzzer blaring) Citizens United versus FEC, next.

What do we call censorship before an idea, either written or spoken, has been expressed?

(buzzer beeping) - Prior restraint.

- That is correct, next.

In a presidential race, candidates go through an often unseen process of determining if they have enough money, name recognition, and emotional and physical stamina to win.

What is this informal process known as?

(buzzer beeping) Yes?

- Invisible primary?

- Correct, next.

Even after the Stamp and Townshend acts were repealed, ending many of the taxes on American colonists, the British Parliament continued taxing what?

(buzzer beeping) - The US?

- Incorrect.

- Tea.

- Correct.

The US Constitution grants many powers to the President, but also limits some of these powers.

For example, the president is head of the military, but how is that power limited?

(buzzer beeping) - He has to get Congress approval to declare war.

- That is correct, next.

What protection did the Supreme Court give to associations in the 1958 case of NAACP versus Alabama?

(intriguing music continues) (buzzer blaring) It allowed associations to protect membership lists and privacy of members, next.

What did the colonists hope the Boston Tea Party would demonstrate to the British government?

(buzzer beeping) - Their unhappiness with British rule and taxes without representation.

- That is correct, next.

Not all colonist leaders approved of the Boston Tea Party, including Benjamin Franklin and this future president.

(buzzer beeping) - George Washington.

- That is correct.

How do interest groups and their members influence public policy?

(buzzer beeping) - Lobbying?

- That is correct and we are done.

Nice job, everybody, another great round.

Here's a quick check of the score.

Rogers 90, Shadle Park 70.

Now don't go anywhere, up next, these students will face off in the category round, everything from the voting booth to the state we live in.

See you then.

- [Announcer] Here's important news for high school seniors.

We all know the legal age to vote is 18, but in Washington state, 17 year olds can vote in the August primary as long as they'll turn 18 before the November general election.

High school seniors, that means if you're 18 or will turn 18 before the November election, it's time to register to vote.

Only registered voters receive a ballot.

To learn more, visit VoteWA.gov.

("Happy Birthday") (bright music) - In just a few minutes, we'll have a chance for viewers to answer a civics question for some KSPS bling.

But before that, it's time for the category round.

In this round, teams will answer questions from the following categories, the Foundation of Freedom, Suffrage, After World War II, the Voting Booth, and the State We Live In.

Teams will alternate choosing a category, but you can't jump ahead from a 10 point question to one of higher value.

And this time, points will be deducted for wrong answers.

Again, these rules are online and the student teams received them last fall.

Now they can decline to answer a question and that's a way to make sure you don't lose points and you can toss the question to the other team, they have to answer, but a team can only pass three times.

So here's a quick check of the score.

Rogers is 90, Shadle Park 70.

Okay, teams, let's go.

Shadle?

- [Rachel] After World War II.

- After World War II for 10 points, describe the fundamental change to American foreign policy both during and following World War II.

(intriguing music) - Decline.

- Decline it is.

The policy shifted from isolationism to internationalism.

Okay, next.

- After World War II for 15.

- After World War II for 15, which amendment to the Constitution limited the number of terms in which a president may serve?

(intriguing music continues) - The 22nd Amendment?

- [Gary] That is correct.

- Foundation for Freedom.

- Foundation of Freedom for 10.

What is it called when five or more of the nine US Supreme Court justices agree on a decision?

- A majority.

- That is correct.

Rogers?

- World War II for 20.

- World War II for 20, what year did the 22nd Amendment become part of the Constitution?

- We would like to toss the question.

- Question is tossed.

Need an answer, please.

- 1946.

- [Gary] That is incorrect, 1951.

Shadle?

- [Rachel] Foundation for Freedom for 15.

- Foundation for 15, seats in the House of Representatives are generally proportioned by population, but each state is guaranteed how many seats, regardless of population?

- Two.

- That is incorrect, one, one.

Rogers?

- Foundation for Freedom for 20.

- What was the name of the legislative body which governed from the Declaration of Independence until the Confederation Congress convened in 1781?

(intriguing music continues) - Decline.

- Decline, it is the second Continental Congress.

Shadle?

- [Rachel] What question do we want?

The State We Live In for 10.

- True or false, unlike the US Congress, state legislatures are not as restricted by their state constitutions.

- False.

- Incorrect, true.

Rogers?

- [Jack] Women's Suffrage for 10.

- What Constitutional Amendment guaranteed the right of women suffragists to petition the government for redress of grievances?

- Decline.

- The First Amendment.

- [Rachel] State We Live In for 15.

- State We Live In For 15.

In 2010, Washington State voters passed an initiative requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes, but it was thrown out, why?

- Toss.

- It would require an amendment to the state constitution?

- [Gary] That is correct.

Rogers, you're up.

- Voting Booth for 10.

- Who sets voter qualifications, each state or the federal government?

- The federal government?

- [Gary] Incorrect, each state, Shadle?

- Voting Booth for 15.

- Here's your next question in this category round from Spokane County auditor Vicky Dalton.

- Under what circumstances can a person who's been convicted of a felony register and vote?

- If it's in their state constitution?

- That is incorrect, a convicted felon can register and vote if they're not incarcerated by the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Rogers.

- [Jack] After World War II for 25.

- Who was the only man to be elected twice as US vice president and twice as President of the United States?

- Decline.

- Richard Nixon, Richard Nixon.

Shadle?

- [Rachel] Women's Suffrage for 15.

- The Washington Territorial Legislature gave women the right to vote in 1883, but it didn't last long.

Brian Newberry, CEO for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington in North Idaho, has your question.

- That 1883 decision was short-lived.

Name two of the three other critical votes and/or court decisions that impacted women's suffrage rights before women finally won the right to vote permanently in Washington in 1910.

- I could not tell you.

- Decline.

- Decline it is, the territorial Supreme Court overturned the 1883 law, legislature passed another one, then the court also overturned that.

(bell dinging) And that is the end of this round, well done, teams.

(audience applauding) Which means that there's only one round left and that will be the all important lightning round.

See you soon.

- [Announcer] Time now to test your knowledge of US civics.

And remember, we're on the honor system here, no Googling.

One of these men did not sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

A, George Read.

B, Roger Sherman.

C, Rufus King.

D, Robert Morris.

Do you know the answer?

Scan this QR code or head to ksps.org/civicsbowl to submit your answer.

You'll be entered in a drawing to win a prize.

The deadline to enter is Monday at noon.

We'll notify the winner and give the right answer next week on "Civics Bowl".

(bright music) - We are just one round away from learning who will be the next to advance in the "Civics Bowl" tournament this season.

In the lightning round, we'll put 90 seconds on the clock.

The idea is to answer as many of these 20 point questions as you can in that time.

No conferring and get ready to go.

Let's take a final check on the score, Rogers, 110, Shadle, 20.

Teams, are you ready?

Let's go.

A nation that governs itself independent of any foreign power with the full authority to make war or peace and to form alliances with foreign nations is said to have what?

(buzzer beeping) Jack?

- Sovereignty.

- That is correct.

What year were Native Americans granted birthright citizenship?

(buzzer beeping) Jo?

- That would be in the 1870s.

- 1924.

The British parliament punished the colonies for the Boston Tea Party by imposing a new set of punitive laws, which closed Boston Harbor, among other things.

What were these acts called?

(buzzer beeping) Evan?

- Coercive Acts?

- [Gary] That is correct.

How often and on what day is the presidential general election held?

(buzzer beeping) Evan?

- Once every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

- That is correct.

The person in this Washington state elected position is responsible for distributing state funds to the schools.

(intriguing music) (buzzer blaring) Superintendent of Public Instruction.

In 1963, which US Supreme Court case guaranteed the right to legal counsel regardless of ability to pay in all criminal courts?

(buzzer beeping) Jo?

- Gideon versus Wainwright.

- Correct.

For all other state and local elections, Washington State uses a top two primary.

What does that mean?

(intriguing music continues) (buzzer blaring) Top two vote getters regardless of party advance to the general election.

How does the US Constitution ensure that the public knows what the legislative branch is doing?

(bell dinging) And the answer is a published journal of proceedings, and that ends the round.

Good job, teams, nicely done.

(audience applauding) And we're taking a look at the final score.

170 Rogers, Shadle 20, that means that Rogers will advance in tournament play.

Congratulations, Team Rogers.

(audience applauding) Thank you, Shadle, for a great match and we hope you'll join us next week as we inch closer to seeing who will bring home the trophy.

We hope you enjoyed playing along from home.

See you next week.

(audience applauding) Well done.