International Academic Competitions is delighted to announce the six discussion group leaders and topics at our 2022 National Championships on Thursday, April 21, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. Participants at Nationals will select a discussion group organized by Presidential Classroom to attend during the dinner break between the end of the preliminary rounds and the start of the playoffs. Participation in the discussion groups is mandatory for participants – discussion groups will be selected in early April once registration for Nationals closes. Students will rank their choices. We will try and accommodate as many preferences as possible, but we need to maintain a balanced number of participants in each discussion group, so we cannot guarantee that students will be given one of their top choices.
Note that this list is subject to change, depending on speaker availability and registration numbers.
America’s Role in Global Human Rights and an Independent Press moderated by Pete Williams, the NBC News correspondent covering the Justice Department and the U.S. Supreme Court, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.
Economic Policy and the Build Back Better Legislation moderated by Dennis Ross, the Director of the Center for Political Leadership at Southeastern University, and a former Member of the United States House of Representatives.
Filibuster Rules – What Would Change Mean moderated by Ian Dubin, the Associate Dean and Managing Director of Brookings Executive Education, a partnership of Brookings Institute and the Washington University of St. Louis.
Intellectual Property Protection and the Global Competition for Innovation Leadership moderated by Elizabeth Dougherty, the Eastern Regional Outreach Director for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Legal Battles Over Voting Rights moderated by Robert Wilkins, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the country’s second most powerful court and a leader in establishing the National Museum of African American History.
The Immigration Dilemma – The Wall Versus Sanctuary Cities moderated by Anthony Moscato, the former Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and a Member of the Board of Immigration Appeals.