Saturday, October 10, 2026 · Ballantine Hall, IU Bloomington
Schedule
The convention meets in two extended sessions — morning and afternoon — the rhythm of sustained deliberation, with recesses built in. Check-in opens at 8:00 a.m.; awards run 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The structure below is set; exact minutes may shift as registration numbers are confirmed. Watch the event page for the final schedule and room assignments.
The day at a glance
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Registration & check-in. All competitors, judges, and observers check in and pick up materials. Every adult entering the building must bring a government-issued photo ID; we are required to inspect each one at check-in. Photographs and/or video will be taken at this event. By taking part in this event, you grant the event organizers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the group’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform an event organizer. |
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Welcome & orientation for students, families, and judges. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Session 1. The convention organizes: delegates elect a Convention President, set the agenda, and debate the first proposals. A 15-minute recess falls mid-morning. |
| 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch. Provided for participants; you are also welcome to bring your own food and snacks. |
| 12:45 – 3:45 p.m. | Session 2. Debate continues: remaining proposals, perfecting amendments, and final adoption votes, closing with the convention’s signing of what it has adopted. A 15-minute recess falls mid-afternoon. |
| 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. | Founding Documents Forum (already in progress; join after adjournment): short remarks and an open Q&A with Honorary Chief Judge Dawn Johnsen and invited guests, plus a primary-source showcase. |
| 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Awards ceremony. Premium awards for top debaters and a commemorative keepsake for every participant, plus team sweepstakes. |
Why two long sessions?
A convention is different from a tournament of separate rounds: its work is cumulative. Delegates introduce proposals in the morning, hear objections, draft amendment language over lunch, and return to perfect and adopt text in the afternoon — the same arc the framers followed across the summer of 1787, compressed into a day. Extended sessions give every delegate multiple speeches, several questioning exchanges, and time for the convention’s distinctive work: negotiating language that two-thirds of the room can support.
To keep the focus on each delegate’s own thinking — and in the spirit of 1787 — competitors use pen and paper only during sessions: no phones, laptops, tablets, or smartwatches, and no internet during debate. Judges may use a device to record comments and submit ballots. Full policy on the Format & Rules page.
What to bring
- Your prepared materials: printed or handwritten notes and evidence for both sides of every docket proposal (see the Delegate Guide).
- A copy of the Constitution — a printed pocket Constitution is ideal; we will have extras on hand.
- Something to write with and on: a notebook or legal pad for flowing the debate and drafting amendment language.
- A water bottle and a light layer; your own food or snacks if you like.
What to wear
Business attire is encouraged but not required, and judges are instructed not to factor wardrobe into their rankings. Comfortable and respectful is perfect.
Next: learn the Format & Rules, then head to the Delegate Guide to prepare.