Undergraduate Essay Competition
The Civics School at ASU is pleased to announce its second annual Undergraduate Essay Competition. Each year, students will be invited to submit essays on a timely question related to foundational freedoms, responsibilities, and governance in a constitutional republic like the United States of America.
For 2026, we invite responses to the question:
Should U.S. citizens be required to pass the citizenship test before they can vote?
Winners:
- First Place: $2,500
- Second Place: $1,500
- Third Place: $1,000
Competition Rules
1. Maximum length: 1000 words
2. Must be the student's own work
3. AI-generated papers not permitted
4. Open to ASU undergraduates only
5. Submit in MS Word format
Please upload your essay no later than 11:59pm, April 12, 2026.
Past topics
2025 Topic
Should the U.S. Constitution be amended to limit the presidential pardoning power?
Winners: Sophia Thomason, Alexander England, Danielle Dizes