Click on the links below to see the FAQs available for each section.  If you do not see the answer you are looking for, please visit the Contact page to send us an e-mail with your question.  We will be sure to answer it promptly, and add it to the appropriate FAQs section for any other users who have the same question!

Welcome and Buzz

General FAQs About americareferendum.com

FAQs About Using americareferendum.com

State of the American Address™ (SOTAA™) FAQs

SOTAA™ - Star Candidate FAQs

Forum (Bulletin Park™) FAQs

Suggest A New FAQ

Question: 

Answer: 

State Of The American Address® is America's Premier contest of oratory.

Question: 

Answer: 

State of the American Address® is the annual event that culminates ar's year long online Ballot phase of the contest.

Question: 

Answer: 

A Candidate for State of the American Address™ is a United States resident who  is sponsored (whose name is submitted by a sponsor) to contest the Honor of Orator of the year.

Question: 

Answer: 

SOTAA's Candidate's List is the registry of all sponsored candidates pending acceptance and/or qualification for transfer to the Top 100 Contestant List.

Question: 

Answer: 

Each year an unlimited number of candidates are sponsored.  When a candidate's name is submitted by a sponsor, the system files the name in alphabetical order by last name.  The system assigns a candidate registration number (CR#), then prompts sponsor to answer questions.

Question: 

Answer: 

SOTAA's Candidate's Waiting List is a status list of candidates who have accepted sponsorship (responded to sponsor's invitation), and are pending transfer to Top 100 Contestants list in the order qualified (date invitation was accepted).

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  However, ar requests that each member sponsors no more than two candidates - one public official and one Principal.

Question: 

Answer: 

A sponsor is a member who endorses a candidate (puts her/him before the American people as one you consider worthy of the Honor).

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  Any ar member can submit the person(s) they know to be most qualified.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar members sponsor Candidates they know to be eminently qualified.  A way of paying due respect to the person(s) they admire and know to be true patriotic Americans.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  Any adult (competent 18 year old or older) resident of the USA who is moved by the subject matter should.  Ask a friend to sponsor you.

Question: 

Answer: 

Please review Candidates list before you sponsor a candidate.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  ar believes that sponsorship includes the duty to notify your candidate of your sponsorship.  Use the electronic invitation that the system provides.

Question: 

Answer: 

When a candidate (declines) his/her name will not post to Candidate's waiting list.

Question: 

Answer: 

When a Candidate accepts her/his sponsorship (responds to sponsor's electronic invitation), the system places Candidate on Waiting List status if Top 100 Contestants list is full.  Or transfers Candidate's name to Top 100 Contestants List if slots are open.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  ar System will notify you.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar's founders believe that the active participation in political life is a duty of good citizenship.  Moreover, it ensures that governance shall be by consent.

Question: 

Answer: 

The running number at the top of the Candidate's List is a real-time total of the number of candidates entered for the current contest year.

Question: 

Answer: 

The Top 100 Contestants' List is where the honored candidates begin the first phase of their competition (scorecard voting by each Candidate's supporters).

Question: 

Answer: 

Scorecard is a calibrated program that interprets your voting scores and gives a real-time account (Top 100).  System arranges real time, the pecking order of Contestants in response to scorecard activity.  You must get your candidate to the Top.

Question: 

Answer: 

In addition to the details provided in the answers to question 20, on the 10th, 20th and last day of each month, scorecard deletes bottom 25 contestants (#75 - #100) to (Eliminated Contestants) Archive - from the months January through November.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar suggests that you vote regularly and encourage your body Politic to vote.  Use your Campaign Headquarters to get others to vote for your Candidate.

Question: 

Answer: 

No.  Your scorecard activity on the SOTAA Contest is unlimited.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  ar believes that the United States contest inspire citizens from foreign nations to celebrate our Nation’s Ideals and to host similar oratory contests.

Question: 

Answer: 

No.  ar computes and displays foreign votes as a matter of interest.  However, the winner is elected based upon the votes of U.S. IPACs only.

Question: 

Answer: 

When (Top 100) list is filled system stops posting but maintains a waiting list until bottom 25 contestants are (eliminated) on the 10th, 20th and last day of each month.

When the system eliminates bottom 25 names the system receives Contestants pending posting from Candidates waiting list in the chronological order qualified.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  There is no cut off point for entries until November15th 10:00 PM EST.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes, but only after bottom 25 is eliminated on the 10th, 20th and last day of each month.

Question: 

Answer: 

When bottom 25 contestants are eliminated (Top 100) is updated from candidates waiting list file.

Question: 

Answer: 

The qualified date is the date that a Candidate is sponsored or a sponsored Candidate Accepts sponsorship.

Question: 

Answer: 

The Post Date is the date that a qualified candidate is posted to (Top 100 Contestants).  Posted directly from the Candidates Column or from Candidates Waiting List.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  November 15th at 10 PM EST, each year.

Question: 

Answer: 

On November 15th each year at 10 PM Eastern Standard Time all scorecard action is shut off.  In that instant submissions are no longer recorded to the CANDIDATES’ Lists.

Question: 

Answer: 

From November 16th up until the day of the State of the American Address™ ar personnel make necessary arrangements to host and produce the live event.  IPACs are updated regularly with postings to (Event Facts) and (Protocol).

Question: 

Answer: 

After election of the americareferendum’s STATESPERSON of the year and upon conclusion of the live webcasted/broadcasted event, all SOTAA Contest pages functions are re-activated to initiate the next year’s contest.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar wishes that each and every American and foreign citizen attends the live event via the World Wide Web.  ar believes that State of the American Address™ is destined to be the most celebrated event for family viewing.  Actual seating at the live event will be limited to the number of seats in Congress (currently 535 seats).  ar allocates seating according to the (seating chart) posted in (Protocol).  Priority is granted to winning contestants and all americareferendum’s contestants.  For example: If your quote is the one most often lifted by visitors you are offered forward seating at events.

Question: 

Answer: 

The most significant aspect of participation is being in the Public Square.  That is, being on line as you are at americareferendum.com and present at the SOTAA Contest precinct.  It is the online audience – the action of each IPAC that declares the winner.  

Question: 

Answer: 

ar invites the top six confirmed contestants, three from each category, to attend the live event and to receive awards.  Therefore all (6) finalists must be prepared to speak.  If for any reason a finalist cannot participate, the next confirmed candidate by category takes his/her place.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar invites Public Officials to sit in the Official Judges’ seats at the live event (3 to 9) an odd number.  You will be the ultimate judge.  Your web-based (Ballot) declares the winner.

Question: 

Answer: 

The date of the live webcasted/broadcasted State of the American Address™ will be on the second Saturday or Sunday of December.  SEE (Event Facts).

Question: 

Answer: 

ar invites Good Corporate citizens to participate.  Sponsors’ information is posted appropriately in the square, and at Events Facts; and also at venue of Live Event.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar gives priority to American corporations that complement the cultural theme of the event.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  The winning 6 contestants – seated will receive ar’s awards.  See (Event Facts) for current updates.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes.  The winner receives the ORATOR's trophy for the Contest year.  The contestant receives the AMERICAN PATRIOT trophy for the contest year.  Runners-up receive Patriots’ awards.

Question: 

Answer: 

The State of the American Address™ venue is posted on (Event Facts).

Question: 

Answer: 

The venue changes each year based upon State of residence of last year’s winner (ORATOR) or in the State of his/her choice.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar requires the event setting for the State of the American Address™ to convey the formality of Congress, and to be kept to a capacity to allow flexibility of Venue choice.

Question: 

Answer: 

State of the American Address™ is an event that celebrates American patriotism.  Produced and performed by the citizenry at large.  In that sense State of the American Address™ is officially the Peoples’ event.  It is not however, an official Government event.  Government officials are the Peoples' guests at the State of the American Address™.

Question: 

Answer: 

State of the American Address™ is held on the second Saturday or Sunday each year in December.  The date is posted on (Event Facts) once decided.  The day is chosen after logistical matters are settled with venue, management, participants and security staff.

Question: 

Answer: 

The Winner of the State of the American Address™ - americareferendum’s ORATOR of the year is chosen by the American Principal.  That is, by the Ballot of each IPAC.

Question: 

Answer: 

Yes. Please do.  Reach us at (host@americareferendum.com).

Question: 

Answer: 

ar posts the rules, protocol and other pertinent facts that govern the modalities of the event here.  Check regularly for current updates.

Question: 

Answer: 

ar posts event specific information and changes here.  For example: if for some reason an emergency causes a time delay, change of venue or contestant(s), such developments are posted at (Events Facts).

Question: 

Answer: 

ar’s data tracking system tracks and posts various information formats gleaned from activity in the square.  This valuable fact reservoir is available to IPACs for pertinent use.  We invite your suggestions to improve its utility.