Since America’s earliest days , cartoonists have entertained us and made important and thought provoking comments on our society. In that spirit, celebrate Bill of Rights Day with the First Amendment Cartoon Contest!

The theme of this year’s contest is Free Expression through the “rights of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” These rights are particularly significant in this an era of protest both in the United States and around the world.

All students nationwide—elementary, middle and high school—are invited to submit a cartoon illustrating one or more of the principles of:

Right to Peaceably Assemble | Right to Petition for a Redress of Grievances

If you are creative and like to draw, this is your chance to illustrate principles of freedom and perhaps win a prize!

Submissions will be judged on the basis of content, artistic quality, and creativity.

Six winners will each receive a $50* prize, and will be showcased on the Judges, Courts and the Law web site, www.courtsed.org. In addition, up to five entries will receive honorable mentions.

Download the contest entry form and rules for more infomation: Single Panel | Cartoon Strip

Download: Tips and Tricks for Creating Comic Strips

Download: Contest Flyer

Deadline for submissions is March 16, 2012 .

Winners and honorable mentions will be announced at www.courtsed.org on Law Day, May 1, 2012.

The contest is open to students nationwide–high school, middle school, and elementary school.

Sponsored by:

*Prize money is provided by Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Administration of Justice Fund.