The championship serves as the final stage of a year-long program that engaged over 20,000 students across 240 communities. Organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition tests participants on their knowledge of the Constitution and government processes, while challenging them to apply civic principles to local issues like food insecurity, affordable housing, and youth mental health. This year marks a significant expansion, as the event will be broadcast and streamed live on C-SPAN for the first time.

Finalists will face a series of rigorous rounds, including team presentations, interviews, and a high-stakes buzzer round. Beyond the competition, the students will participate in educational visits to Washington institutions to engage with policy leaders. Michael Carney, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, described the event as a way to highlight how civics functions as the fundamental operating system for both the economy and democracy. The winner will receive the Bill Daniels National Civics Award, and applications for the 2027 cycle are currently open through February 2, 2027.