OFFICIAL RULES OF THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION CIVICS BEE CONTEST (“OFFICIAL RULES”)
Sponsor:
The sponsor of the contest is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 1615 H Street NW, Washington D.C., 20062 (“Sponsor”). The co-sponsor of the contest is Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, 400 Tijeras Ave. NW, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (“Co-Sponsor”).
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS APPLY.
Eligibility for Entry:
To be eligible to participate in the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Civics Bee, an applicant (“Entrant”) must:
- Be a student in grades six through eight;
- Agree to all of the Civics Bee Rules, including potentially attending the Civics Bee Competition.
Employees, officers, and directors of the Sponsor or Co-Sponsor and any affiliated entities, and their respective immediate families (parents, spouses, children, siblings) or individuals residing in their household (whether or not related) are not eligible entrants.
Term:
The Contest began on February 25, 2022 at 12:01 am US Mountain Standard Time (MST) and ends May 3, 2022 at 11:59pm US Mountain Standard Time (MST). All entries must be submitted by April 7, 2022 at 11:59pm US Mountain Standard Time (MST). By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules. This is a skills-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of winners.
Entry Procedure:
The Contest contains two phases:
Phase One: Entrants must submit a 500-word essay in response to the prompt (“Entry”). Entries may be submitted through https://bit.ly/AlbuquerqueCivicsBee or by mailing a hard copy submission, post-marked by April 7, 2022 to 400 Tijeras Ave. NW, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Hard copy submissions must include the student’s First Name, Last Name, School Name, ZIP Code, and Guardian Phone Number/Email. Entries received by any other means will not be considered.
Entrants must submit their Entry before April 7, 2022 at 11:59pm US Mountain Standard Time (MST) (“Closing Date”).
Phase Two: Ten (10) finalists (“Finalists”) will be selected based on the essay judging criteria listed below (See Judging Criteria for Selection of Finalists in Essay Competition). The Finalists will compete live (at the organizer’s sole option, the live event may be held virtually) in a Civics Bee Competition, which will determine the First Place Winner of the Contest. There will also be a Second Place Winner and Third Place Winner selected.
Contest Prize:
Each Finalist will receive a trophy commemorating their participation in the Civics Bee Competition.
From the Finalists:
There will be one (1) third place winner of the Civics Bee Competition (“Third Place Winner”). The Third Place Winner will receive a separate trophy and a cash prize of $250.
There will be one (1) second place winner of the Civics Bee Competition (“Second Place Winner”). The Second Place Winner will receive a separate trophy and a cash prize of $500.
There will be one (1) first place winner of the Civics Bee Competition (“First Place Winner”). The First Place Winner will receive a separate trophy and a cash prize of $1000.
The prize does not include any reimbursement of travel or any other expenses in conjunction with the Civics Bee Competition. The prize may not be transferred or assigned by the winner. No cash equivalent will be provided in lieu of the non-cash prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the prize in the event of unavailability.
To claim the cash prize, the winner or Parent or Guardian of the winner must provide a valid taxpayer identification number to the Sponsor. Payment of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner(s) (or parent or legal guardian if under the age of 18).
Odds of Winning:
Odds of being named a Finalist or being selected as one of the placed winners depends on the number of eligible applicants received on or before the Closing Date and the skill of the entrants.
Judging Criteria for Selection of Finalists in Essay Competition:
Each Entry will be evaluated by a group of judges selected by the Sponsor. Each judge will use the rubric provided on the submission page to evaluate each Entry. Criteria covered on the rubric are “Understanding of Civic Principles,” “Clarity and Effectiveness in Responding to the Essay Prompt,” “Use of Supporting Evidence and Primary Sources,” and “Innovation.” The ten (10) highest scoring Entries will be selected as the Finalists, and notified via email and/or phone, to participate in the Civics Bee Competition.
The parent or legal guardian of a Finalist that is under the age of 18 must execute and return any required consent and publicity release within ten (10) days of notification attempt or the Finalist will be disqualified, the prize will be forfeited, and an alternate Finalist(s) will be chosen.
Process for Civics Bee Competition
The Civics Bee Competition will be a live event with the ten (10) Finalists answering three rounds of civics-based quiz questions. The first two rounds will eliminate students based on the accuracy of their answers to the questions. The student with the most correct answers in the third round of questions will be determined the First Place Winner of the Civics Bee Contest.
Publicity Release:
Participating in the Contest constitutes a participant’s permission for the Sponsor or Co-Sponsor or its agents to photograph, film, and record each participant, and to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, voice, biographical information, and/or any statements made by him/her regarding the Contest or its sponsors for purposes of publicity or promotion without additional financial or other compensation, and the Sponsor or Co-Sponsor may, where legal, require participants, (where applicable) to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize.
You agree to grant the Sponsor and Co-Sponsor a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to edit, telecast, exhibit, rerun, reproduce, use, syndicate, license, print, distribute, and otherwise exploit any items (including any photos, videos, audio, or written material) submitted as part of your contest entry, or any portion thereof, in any manner, and in any and all formats and media now known or hereafter devised, without payment to you or any third party. You represent and warrant that you are the parent or legal guardian of the minor and provide your express consent for your child to appear in any materials submitted in the Contest or related event or ceremony, and you have the full legal right, power, and authority to grant to the Sponsor and Co-Sponsor this license.
General Rules:
No Entry can be withdrawn after the Closing Date. Neither the Sponsor, Co-Sponsor nor the Entrant’s parents, affiliated entities or agents, are responsible for any illegible, lost, stolen, late, damaged, incomplete, mutilated or misdirected applications or other documents. Entrants are responsible for ensuring proper contact information has been submitted and is maintained throughout the Civics Bee to allow communications about the Civics Bee.
Erroneous or false information provided in the Entry will result in immediate disqualification of the applicants. Sponsor(s) and the Judges otherwise retain the right to disqualify any applicant in their sole discretion.
If, for any reason, the Civics Bee is not capable of running as planned, Sponsor, Co-Sponsor reserve the right in their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Civics Bee at any time. Sponsor and Co-Sponsor reserve the right to amend the rules to the contest at any time.
By creating an Entry, or by being an Entrant, you understand that there is no joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relation between you and the Sponsor or Co-Sponsor arising from any Entry.
The decisions of the Judges are final, and Entrants specifically agree that the decision of the Judges and any decision of Sponsor or Co-Sponsor is not subject to review or appeal in any forum whatsoever, including courts of law.
Any information provided as part of this Contest is provided according to the website’s Privacy Policy, as they may be amended from time to time, and as otherwise provided for in these Rules. Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, shared, and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Contest and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules and according to the website’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The data may also be used by the Sponsor in order to verify the participant’s First Name, Last Name, School Name, ZIP Code, Guardian’s Phone Number/Email, or to otherwise verify the participant’s eligibility to participate in the Contest. Participants have the right to access, review, rectify, or cancel any personal data held by the Sponsor by writing to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 1615 H Street NW, Washington D.C. 20062, civics@uschamber.com.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. By entering the Contest, entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (2) any claims, judgment, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event attorney’s fees; and (3) under no circumstances, will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses. But in no event shall the liability of the Sponsor or Co-Sponsor exceed $100.
Winners List. To request a list of the names of the top three winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 1615 H Street NW, Washington D.C. 20062.
Amended on March 30, 2022