The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, not for profit educational honor society founded in 1925 by Bruno E. Jacob at Ripon College. Its purpose is to encourage and motivate high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking, and interpretation.
The National Speech Tournament has been held continuously since 1931 (except for the W. W. II years) Due to the encouragement of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The National Student Congress Tournament continued through the war years.
The National Forensic League has appeared on the approved list of the National Association of Secondary School Principals National Advisory List of Contests and Activities since origination of the list.
