Empowering our youth to raise their voices, show off their civics skills and be informed, involved citizens!

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and local chambers of commerce across Indiana to host a first-of-its-kind statewide civics competition. The 2023-24 National Civics Bee encourages middle school students in grades 6-8 to engage in civics and contribute to their communities.

The competition, modeled on traditional spelling and geography bees, gives students the chance to win recognition and earn cash prizes by sharing ideas for improving their communities and showing their enthusiasm for civics. The winner of the National Civics Bee Indiana State Finals will be invited to Washington, D.C. to compete in the inaugural National Civics Bee national championship in Fall 2024.

Why Civics?

We are hosting the National Civics Bee Indiana State Finals because we believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge throughout Indiana and celebrating our civic pride.

Who is Eligible + How to Enter

Any Indiana student enrolled in grades 6, 7 or 8 at a public, private or home school institution at the time of entry is eligible to participate. To enter, students should select one of Indiana’s local chamber competitions (see links above) and follow the steps, rules and guidelines provided by the chamber to submit your entry.

NOTE: Students can only apply to one local chamber competition.

How the Competition Works

  • Local Essay Round: Students enter the local Bee of their choosing by submitting a 500-word essay. Entries will be accepted directly by each participating local chamber beginning in November 2023 through February 19, 2024.

  • Local Civics Bee Competitions: Local chambers will judge each essay and select twenty local finalists to compete live in a local Civics Bee Competition, which will determine the first, second and third place winners of the local competition. The local Civics Bee Competition is a 90-minute, in-person event featuring two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round. Local Bees will be held between February 20 and April 30, 2024.

  • State Civics Bee Competition: The top three winners from each local competition will advance to compete in the Indiana Civics Bee Competition on August 23 at the Statehouse – hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Indiana Department of Education. The state finalist with the highest cumulative score will be named the first place winner of the state competition and have the opportunity to compete in the National Civics Bee Championship.

  • National Championship: The 2024 National Civics Bee Championship will take place in Fall 2024 in Washington, D.C.

 Competition Rules | Educator Guide | Student & Parent Guide | 23-24 Playbook 

Local Competitions + Prizes

The following local chambers of commerce are participating in the 2024 National Civics Bee. Use the links below to find more information about each local bee and to submit your entry.

Get Involved

Are you interested in showcasing your company’s commitment to developing active and engaged citizens? For information about corporate sponsorships, contact Tim Brewer at tbrewer@indianachamber.com or (317) 496-0704.