The Foundation is authorized, either directly or by contract, to provide for the conduct of a nationwide competition for the selection of fellowship recipients. Each applicant must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a course of study which emphasizes the Constitution, its principles, and its history, and have a demonstrated record of willingness to devote themselves to civil responsibility.

Each application shall be accompanied by an essay explaining the importance of the study of the Constitution both to the applicant’s career aspirations and contributions to public service, and to citizenship generally in a constitutional regime.