Tahoma High’s We the People team has earned the title of state champions again.

On Jan. 8 the group, which has spent many hours preparing for the mock Congressional debate competition, beat out Central Kitsap, Heritage, Evergreen, Mount Rainier, Peninsula and River’s Edge for the title.

Tahoma students begin preparing the summer before they take the class with an extensive list of reading materials to help them understand the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

They were asked questions by a panel of judges made up of lawyers, judges, legislators, educators and other community leaders.

Questions don’t always have clear cut answers and involved debate, as well as knowledge not just of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but Supreme Court cases and their underlying history.

Tahoma’s We the People team will compete in the national contest in Washington, D.C.

The state competition is part of a program offered by Civic Education Washington State, a nonprofit that is funded through some federal and state funding as well as donations and grants.