Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge is now open for submissions!
The Congressional App Challenge is an annual, nationwide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) competition sponsored by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Challenge encourages students to learn how to code by creating a software application for any topic that can be used on mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.
The Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in Minnesota’s Fifth District. The winning app of our district's competition will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, receive a Copyright Fee Waiver provided through the ARTS Act, have their app featured on the Congressional App Challenge webpage, and get an invitation to attend a winner's celebration inside the U.S. Capitol called #HouseOfCode. The winning artwork will also be featured on House.gov's Congressional App Challenge page.
Here are the Congressional App Challenge rules:
Eligibility Requirements
- To be eligible to participate in the Congressional App Challenge, you must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.
- Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team.
- Students may compete in the district they reside in or the district they attend school in.
- If competing as a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating.
- All competing students must be U.S. residents at the time of submission. There is no citizen requirement for students.
App Parameters
TOPIC: The app can be about any topic.
PLATFORM: The app can be developed for any platform, including but not limited to web apps, desktop/PC apps, mobile apps, web browser extensions, robots, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), wearable devices, smart devices, and embedded systems.
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE: Participants may use any programming language, including but not limited to C, C++, Objective C, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP , Swift, and block-based coding languages.
FUNCTIONALITY: The app must demonstrate some degree of functionality to be considered competitive.
CONTENT SUITABILITY: The app must adhere to standards of decency and respect. It must not be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, or demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct. The app must not adversely affect the reputation of Congressional districts, depict hatred, defame, or threaten any specific community, or incite violence. Apps containing pornography, obscenity, or sexual activity are strictly prohibited. Additionally, the app must not violate any Intellectual Property, common law, or privacy rights of third parties.
ORIGINALITY: The app must be original and solely created by the contestant. All coding and technical development must be done by the student or student team. While participants may use open-source libraries, frameworks, and external tools, they must clearly document any such usage and ensure their project reflects significant personal effort and technical understanding. No other party should have any rights or interest in the app, whether known or unknown.
AI USAGE: The use of AI tools in app development for the Congressional App Challenge is permitted, provided that all AI usage is fully disclosed in the submission materials. AI may only be used to support specific aspects of the project and must not constitute the entirety of the technical development. Participants are expected to demonstrate significant individual contributions and technical understanding of their app.
The Congressional App Challenge is open from May 1st, 2025, through October 30th, 2025. Submissions must be turned in by 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 30th, 2025.
For more information on the Congressional App Challenge, or to register and submit, please visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. If you have any questions, please call my District Office at (612) 333-1272.