Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide middle and high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) competition sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional App Challenge is an opportunity for students to practice and showcase their coding skills.
Students are encouraged to register online and submit their app to CongressionalAppChallenge.us by Monday, October 26, 2026.
This nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application (also known as an “app”) for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. They accept any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or "block code." The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.
The following is a summary of the Congressional App Challenge rules:
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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.
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Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team.
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Students may compete in the district they reside in or the district they attend school in.
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If competing as a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating.
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All competing students must be U.S. residents at the time of submission. There is no citizen requirement for students.
App Parameters:
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Topic: The app can be about any topic.
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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.
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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.
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Functionality: The app must demonstrate some degree of functionality to be considered competitive.
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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.
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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.
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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 complete rulebook can be found here.
The winner from Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring the winners from across the country. Information about last year’s winner, HeadacheWise, can be found here.
The winning app will be announced the week of December 8, 2026.
For more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website or email StudentSupport@CongressionalAppChallenge.us.