Civics Bowl
Semifinal #2: Ridgeline vs. Lewis and Clark
Season 2026 Episode 6 | 26m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
Ridgeline and Lewis and Clark compete for the final spot in the 2026 championship game.
From the American Revolution to political drama on the big screen, the last semifinal matchup of the Civics Bowl season has something for everyone. Not to mention, a close game between Ridgeline High School and Lewis and Clark High School. But only one can advance to the championship.
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Civics Bowl is a local public television program presented by KSPS PBS
Civics Bowl
Semifinal #2: Ridgeline vs. Lewis and Clark
Season 2026 Episode 6 | 26m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
From the American Revolution to political drama on the big screen, the last semifinal matchup of the Civics Bowl season has something for everyone. Not to mention, a close game between Ridgeline High School and Lewis and Clark High School. But only one can advance to the championship.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThe championship game is within reac for two tough civics bowl teams.
Who's going to come out on top in today's final semifinal battle?
Ridgeline or Lewis and Clark?
Civics Bowl is made possible by the Avist Foundation, the League of Women Voters of the Spokane area and of Washington.
And by viewers like you.
Hi, everyone, and thank you for joining us.
I'm Civics Bowl host Scott Leadingham.
We're expecting a competitive match in our second semifinal matchup this season.
Last week, Liberty advanced to the championship game.
Today we find out who will be joining them.
It'll be either the Falcons from Ridgeline or the Tigers from Lewis and Clark.
Let's say hello to the teams back in our studio today from Ridgeline.
Please welcome Vivian, Tessa, Talene and Abby.
And in the audience we also welcome Ridgelines alternates Mary and Kate and coaches Brittany Bergman and Suzanne Smith.
And from Lewis and Clark.
Please welcome Isaac, Ike, Ava and Avisha.
We'd also like to welcome LCS alternate Jay and coach Megan Gomes.
All right, teams.
Are you ready to get this match started?
First up, the Toss-Up round.
I'll start by asking a tossup question to all players.
A correct answer gives that team a bonus question.
Before we move on to another toss up.
All correct answers i this round are worth ten points.
Here is your first toss up question.
Who wrote the majority of the 85 Federalist Papers, which were written to promote the adoption of the new constitution?
Abby Hamilton.
Correct.
Alexander Hamilton The hit Broadwa musical Hamilton tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, who created the award winning musical and originally starred in the lead role.
Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Correct.
Another toss up name in order.
The first four offices and th presidential line of succession.
Vivian, the vice president.
The speaker of the House and the president pro tempore and Secretary of State.
That is correct.
Your bonus.
Who was the firs and so far only woman to serve as president pro tem of the Senate?
Patty Murray.
Correct.
Patty Murray.
Another toss up.
Let's get a question from guest presenter now.
Hi, I'm Denny Heck, lieutenant governor of Washington state.
The Washington state legislature convenes for two kinds of sessions a short session and a long session.
What is the purpose of the long session?
Which is held every other year.
Vivian.
To determine the budget.
Yes.
To pass the biennial budget of the state.
And your bonu back to the lieutenant governor.
Washington State's 202 legislative session just wrapped up.
Was it a short session or was it a long session?
Long.
Incorrect.
It was a short session this yea because it's an election year.
They do the 60 day one in election year.
All right, another toss up.
Let's check in with another guest presenter.
Hi, I'm Courtney Grossman.
I play basketball at Eastern Washington University.
Go Eagles direct legislatio gives citizens the opportunity to make and remake laws.
What is the term for state legislatio that is proposed to the people and is presented to the voters at the next general election?
Vivian.
Referendum.
Incorrect.
Other team.
Would you like to?
Avisha.
Indirect legislation?
No.
Can't take that.
We were looking for an initiative to the people.
Specifically the initiative.
What is the practice of voting for only candidates in one political party called Ava Primary?
No.
Incorrect.
Straight ticket voting?
Yes.
Straight ticket voting.
Here is your bonus.
What is it called when a strong candidate, usually at or near the top of the ballot, helps attract voters to other candidates on that party's ticket endorsement?
No, we were looking for the coattail effect.
Riding the coattails.
All right, another toss up.
Which amendment to the US Constitution states that the vice president will become president if the sitting president dies in office.
Isaac.
11th.
Incorrect.
Talene.
25th.
That is the 25th amendment.
And your bonus.
Which presidential assassination led to the ratification of the 25th amendment?
JFK.
That is correct.
Another toss up, and it's another video clue.
I am Washington State governor Bob Ferguson.
As the Washington Territor grew in the mid to late 1800s.
Many of the people who lived there were eager to see Washington become a state.
They wanted to form their own state government instead of having a governor appointed by the president.
What did Washington residents have to do before the United States Congress would authorize a new state?
No?
They actually had to write a state constitution before Congres would let them in to the Union.
All right, another toss up.
The president names most of the top ranking officers of the federal government, including ambassadors, federal judges and cabinet members.
How many senators are needed to approve each nomination?
Ava.
half.
No Vivian.
Two thirds.
No.
Incorrect.
It's worth more than half.
51 a simple majority.
So technically, a half isn't right.
Another toss up.
What term describes nonviolent, deliberate violations of the law to protest laws or policies?
Ike.
civil disobedience?
Correct.
Your bonus in most cases.
Does the First Amendment protect those who engage in civil disobedience?
Yes.
No is the answer.
It does not protect civil disobedience in most cases.
This will be the last tossup in this round.
Every American citizen, whether native born or naturalized, has the righ to renounce their citizenship.
What is this called?
Pauline.
Denaturalization.
Incorrect.
IKe.
Expat?
A little more expatriotization?
Yes.
Expatriation and your bonus.
True or false?
Congress has the right t take away a person's citizenship if that person commits a crime.
False.
False is correct.
All right.
That is the end of the Toss-Up round.
Good job everyone.
And taking a look at the score after that first round.
Ridgeline has 80.
Lewis and Clark has 30.
We have much more game ahead.
The head to head round is next.
Let's check out this week's question of the week.
George Washington Carver is known as the father of the peanut industry, developin more than 300 uses for peanuts.
But that's not all.
What crop did he use to invent 100 additional products?
A corn b cashews c sweet potatoes d peas.
We'll be back with the answe after another exciting round of civics bowl.
Its tim to play the head to head round.
Players will go against each other one at a time.
As with the last round, correct answers are worth ten points.
Here's your first question.
In the 19th century, what did the US federal government call the country's mission to expand west?
Manifest destiny.
Correct.
What Supreme Court ruling upheld segregation, allowing institution and businesses to apply separate but equal treatment of African Americans.
Plessy V. Ferguson?
correct?
In 1896, before the bicameral Congress was created, which state wante an equal voice for all states?
New Jersey.
Correct.
What fort in Washington state did the Hudson's Bay company establish as the center for the fur trade in the northwest?
That was Fort Vancouver.
What is the name given to powers that can be exercised only by the national government, and not by the states, under any circumstances?
Exclusive.
Correct.
Exclusive powers.
What term describes the legal process of returning a fugitive from justice to the state where they allegedly committed the crime?
That is extradition.
Which former representative of Washington's fifth Congressional district was the speaker of the House from 1989 to 1995.
Thomas Foley.
Correct.
What fraction of states legislatures must approve a proposed amendment in order for it to be added to the US Constitution?
Three fourths.
Correct.
Excluding our current president, there are four living former presidents.
Name them.
Obama, Clinton and Carter.
No incorrect.
Four.
Obama.
Biden.
Clinton.
Bush.
Yes.
Be more specific on one of those.
W Bush.
Correct.
Which Washington stat elected position is responsible for distributing state funds to schools and managing the state's K-12 education system?
Governor.
Incorrect.
B. No answer.
It is the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What act passed in 1990 requires public facilities to make an effort to accommodate people with physical limitations.
Americans with Disabilities Act.
Correct.
This is the last question.
The US Constitution established only the Supreme Court in Article three, who is granted the authority to create lower federal courts.
Congress?
That is correct.
Congress has that authority.
Great job, everyone in that round.
And after that round, the score is Ridgeline with 140 and Lewis and Clark with 60.
The category round is next.
Welcome back.
And we're going to get to know the teams a little bit more and what they like to do in their spare time.
So I'm just curious, Vivian, what grade are you in, and what are you doing when you're not studying for civics bowl?
I'm a senior and I love to cook and watch political dramas with my mom.
Ooh.
West wing.
What?
What do you like West wing, madam secretary, does Veep count ?
That's funny, but you know.
Yeah.
Okay.
All right.
Tessa, What do you do?
I'm a senior.
I like to play tennis, read and do.
Knowledge bowl.
Oh, right Yeah.
Civics more knowledgeable.
What's harder?
They're both pretty hard.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Talene, grade, What do you do?
I'm a senior and I really like trivia.
I'm also a knowledge bowl.
I did it all for years.
Yeah.
Yeah, I can tell you guys are pretty good at this stuff.
All right, Abby, I'm a junior, and I like track and field and martial arts.
Oh, nice.
What's your event in both things?
Martial arts and track and field.
Track I do throwing, so sho and disc and then martial arts.
It's like a mixed martial arts.
So all the cool styles It's amazing, right?
Yeah, just.
All right.
Nice, nice.
All right.
Isaac grade.
What do you do?
I'm a senior, and I'm, the section tuba section leader at Lewis and Clark.
You know what?
I was getting a tuba vibe.
Right.
Yeah, I'm a trumpet guy.
You can tell what instruments people.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
Yeah, yeah.
Wow.
And everything all right, Ike, what grade?
What do you do?
I'm a senior, and I'm.
I really like reading and biking.
Yeah, okay.
Like mountain biking, speed biking.
What was on the roads?
Wherever.
All the above.
Yeah.
Where that helmet.
Where that helmet.
Yeah.
You can't just just drivers.
Ava What do you do?
I'm a senior, and I like underwater basket weaving.
Yes.
Are you going to major in that in college?
Because I'm joking.
I'm driving, I love swimming.
Oh, okay.
Well, if you want to major in that, I'd sa go to University of Washington.
They're very good at that.
Okay.
Yeah.
Alicia.
What grade?
I'm a junior, and I like hiking.
And I also do martial arts.
Oh.
Now what?
What specific kind?
Karate.
Right.
I'm sure you're very good.
Okay Right.
Category round is next.
Here are the categories you'll be choosing from in this round.
Getting organized, the American Revolution, suffrage timeline, FDR, and name that film.
LC, you get to go first.
Can we do FDR for 15, please?
What disease caused President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to lose the use of his legs 12 years before becoming president?
Polio.
correct.
Rejoin.
We'd like suffrage timeline for 15 points.
When the U.S.
Constitution went into effect, the right to vote was generally restricte to white male property owners.
Expandin suffrage would take generations.
In what year following the Civil War did the 15th amendment give former slaves the right to vote?
We'd like to toss tossing to LC and you must answer.
1866.
Very close.
It was 1870, 1870.
So it stays with LC to choose the next.
We'd like to do FDR for 20, please.
Who mos influenced President Roosevelt's views on women's rights and labor?
Eleanor Roosevelt?
yes, his wife Ridgeline.
We'd like FDR for 25 points.
Eight days after becoming president, Roosevelt delivered the first of many speeches over the radio.
What was the nam given to these radio speeches?
The fireside chats.
Correct.
LC.
we'd like FDR for 30, please, to address the problems of the Great Depression.
Roosevelt focuse on getting people back to work.
What National Service Program employed young men to build cabins, pave roads and plant trees?
The CCC?
yes, Civilian Conservation Corps, you can see some of those structures and stuff around the Spokane area.
Ridgeline.
We'd like the American Revolution for 15 points.
From the people to the battles that shaped America's fight for independence, we're featuring more questions and images from the Ken Burns PBS documentary The American Revolution.
Your first question comes from a guest.
Hi, I'm Doug Jonas.
We are local members of sons of the American Revolution.
We are committed to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and teaching future generations about the Revolutionary War.
Here's your question what were the colonists living in English controlled America who rebelled against the authority called?
Patriots?
Yes, patriots, among other names.
Colonials, Yankees, things like that.
LC.
Suffrage timeline for 20.
And what year did the 19th amendment give women the right to vote?
In 1921?
Incorrect.
It was 1920.
Ridgeline.
We'd like the American Revolution for 20 points.
It's another guest.
Hi, I'm Cindy Lundberg.
We are local members of the daughters of the American Revolution.
Our members volunteer countless service hours to support our communities, especially military personnel, veterans and students.
Here's your question.
Because of the common color of their uniforms, British soldiers were often called by what nickname?
Redcoats.
Yes, Redcoats or the lobster backs.
Elsie, can we d the American Revolution for 25?
On whose side did the Mohawk leader?
Military strategist and diplomat Joseph Brant, also known as Thayendanegea figh during the American Revolution.
Need an answer.
the British.
That is correct.
Ridgeline.
We'd like the American Revolution to close out that category on the screen.
This well-known painting depicts George Washington crossing the Delaware Rive on Christmas night in 1776.
To which town did Washington lead a successful surprise attack?
Need an answer?
We'd like to decline.
You will decline that.
It's not a toss.
So I'll give you the answer.
It was Trenton member the Battle of Trenton.
Just a reminder, you can watch the American Revolution documentary on the PBS app or on PBS passport.
A little plug there.
Okay.
LC.
We do suffrage timeline for 25.
Even with the passing of the 15th amendment, many Black Americans still face discrimination at the polls.
What year did the Voting Rights Act enforce racial equality at polling places?
Need an answer?
1965.
Correct.
Ridgeline.
We'd like suffrage for 30 points.
Last in that category.
What year did the 26th amendment drop the voting age from 21 to 18.
Need an answer.
We'd like to decline youll decline, not toss it.
It's 1971.
All right, LC, can we do getting organized for 15 to discuss the worsening situation with the British parliament and a plan of action?
What meeting of the American colonies convened in 1774?
the first Continental Congress?
That is correct.
Ridge line.
We we'd like name that film.
We're going to let our Saturday night cinema host handle this category.
Hi, I'm Mikayla Daniels, one of the hosts of Saturday Night Cinema here on KSPS PBS.
Maybe a little farfetched, this 2025 action comedy stars Idris Elba as the British prime minister and John Cena as the president of the United States.
We'd like to toss.
So toss that to Elsie, who has to answer.
Heads of state.
That is correct.
And it's going to stay with LC since they tossed.
Can we do getting organized for 20?
In what city did the first Continental Congress meet?Philadelphia?
That is correct.
Ridgeline.
We'd like getting organized.
Getting organized?
This is the last question in this category.
What document did delegates of the First Continental Congress send to King George III.
Declaration of Independence?
That is incorrect.
It is the Declaration of Rights and Grievances or the Declaration of Rights.
Independence came later.
All right.
That is the end of that round.
And taking a look at the score after that category round.
Ridgeline with 175.
LC with 190.
It's really close.
The Lightning round is next.
Let's get the answer for this week's question of the week.
George Washington Carver i known for his work with peanuts, but what other crop did he use in his research?
The answer is C sweet potatoes.
Carver developed cooking oil, writing ink, soap, wood stains and more from peanuts and from sweet potatoes.
He made molasses, flour, vinegar, dyes and more.
He is sometimes credited with inventing peanut butter.
While that is not accurate.
He did develo hundreds of products, primarily to help American farmers, along with the development of improved agriculture practices.
Befor we get to the lightning round, I want to once again thank volunteers from the League of Women Voters of the Spokane area for writing hundreds of questions for the competition.
We couldn't do this without all of you.
Thank you so much.
Of course, the league is a great partner of CIVICS BOWL and KSPS PBS, because our missions align so well.
We share a goal to help educate and empower people to get involved in the democratic process.
If you would like to learn more about the League of Women Voters, visit lwv.org.
And with that, it is now time for the Lightning Round.
It's the final chance for these teams to score as many points as possible and earn a trip to the championship game.
We'll put 90 seconds on the clock.
Questions are worth 20 points, and points are deducted for wrong answers.
Teams.
Are you ready?
The clock starts when I finish reading the first question.
What was the first permanent English settlement in North America?
Talene.
Jamestown.
Correct.
Which of the original 13 Colonie Isaac, Rhode Island.
Incorrect.
Georgia.
What function of government does the U.S.
Constitution mention more than any other?
Isaac.
Serve the people.
Incorrect.
It's defense.
How many counties are in Washington state?
39.
True or false?
If the president decides to veto a bill, he or she must reject the entire bill, not just a portion.
Alicia.
True.
Correct.
Who was the first African-American justice of the U.S.
Supreme Court?
Vivian.
Thurgood Marshall.
Correct.
Which president was responsible for abolishing segregatio in the United States military?
Ike.
Truman.
Yes, Harry S Truman.
What policy defines a nation's refusal to become involved in the affairs of the rest of the world?
Isaac.
Neutrality.
No incorrect isolationism.
How many members serve in the U.S.
House of Representatives?
Tessa 435.
Correct.
Which amendment to the U.S.
Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment?
Abby eight.
Yes.
The eighth Amendment.
What technique of persuasion aims to create a particular belief among the audience?
That's propaganda, not what this is.
And that is the end of the lightning round.
Time is up, everyone.
Great job.
After all that Ridgeline.
Congratulations.
You are heading to the championship.
It's 255 to 170.
In that championship you'll face Liberty High School.
Lewis and Clark, you did a great job.
I hope you're proud of how far you made it in this season's tournament.
And I hope you will be excite to be lifelong, engaged citizens and voters.
Great job everyone.
You're not going to want to mis next week's championship game.
Catch it Monday at seven on KSPS PBS or at ksps.org, on the PBS app and on YouTube.
From all of us here at KSPS PBS.
Thank you for following the action this season.
We'll see you next week.
Thank you.
Civics Bowl is made possible by the Avist Foundation, the League of Women Voters of the Spokane area and of Washington.
And by viewers like you.
Semifinal #2: Ridgeline vs. Lewis and Clark | Preview
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Preview: S2026 Ep6 | 30s | Ridgeline and Lewis and Clark compete for the final spot in the 2026 championship game (30s)
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