YMCA Youth and Government
[3][6][7][8] In 2000, the American Bar Association became a supporter of the organization, creating a policy requesting lawyers to become involved in the program by stressing the importance of engaging and educating students about the United States legal process.
About this issue, Sandra Day O'Connor and Roy Romer said in 2006: Most young people today simply do not have an adequate understanding of how our government and political system work, and they are thus not well prepared to participate as citizens.
[9][nb 1] The organization's mission is to "help create the next generation of thoughtful, committed and active citizens" by teaching them the "principles of a democratic society.
[6] Volunteers may include attorneys from the American Bar Association,[11] legislators, business people and other organizations, such as the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.
The participants of the Model Legislative Assemblies are elected into or assume the roles of senators, governors, representatives, lawyers, lobbyists and the press.
[24] The only state to do so, the Alabama Youth Legislature holds an electoral college in which delegates elect candidates for major offices.
[21][25] Since its inception, the program has served tens of thousands of youth,[21] some of whom received support and mentoring from legislators, business people and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.
[7][non-primary source needed] In 2012 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed bill AB 233 into law which allows for voluntary contributions on the personal income tax for the California YMCA Youth and Government Fund.
[34] Each year, there is a General Assembly for high school students in the Colorado State Capitol in Denver that takes place over three days in November.
There is also a one-day Pre-Legislative training and Elections Conference held in late February or early March at Legislative Hall in Dover, DE.
Their program examines the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, including simulation of media and lobbyist interactions.
Their program examines the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, including simulation of media and lobbyist interactions.
INYaG programs have sought to develop and promote an understanding of local, state, national, and international concerns; research, study and debate on public issues; exploration of careers in public service; interaction with adult and youth leaders involved in decision-making processes; an understanding of political systems and the forum they provide for the effective and peaceful resolution of issues and concerns; appreciation for the diversity of viewpoints on public issues and a concurrent respect for ideas, beliefs and the positions of others; and demonstration of citizenship responsibilities and leadership roles essential to the health of participatory democracy.
The conference provides student participants with the experience of being a part of a functioning state government, from bill passage to policy advising.
After a statewide training sessions where they learn about the parliamentary process, students form delegations, research and debate issues, write bills and campaign among their peers.
A delegate in the legislative branch drafts and presents a bill each year in hopes of passing it through the house or senate chambers, and into law.
Michigan was a charter delegation at the National Judiciary Conference, which was partially founded by former MYIG Executive Director Brent Veysey.
[citation needed] The Mississippi Youth & Government program annually serves middle and high school students with leadership development opportunities.
[citation needed] Missouri's Youth in Government holds a program called the Executive Branch Leadership Institute (EBLI) every spring, in which 30-40 students travel to Jefferson City to shadow a state department for two days.
Additionally, the Northeast Regional Model United Nations Program is hosted by New Jersey through cooperation with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
One notable achievement from North Carolina's Youth and Government was winning the 2019 National Judicial Competition in the Court of Appeals category.
Ohio's YMCA Youth & Government program began in 1952 and reflects the idea that “democracy must be learned by each generation” The Ohio YMCA Youth & Government program provides high school and middle school students with a unique opportunity to become acting state legislators, governors, lobbyists, lawyers, and committee chairs.
[86] In 2015, under the leadership of director Charlie Myers, Ohio YMCA Youth & Government held its first middle school conference.
As of 2015, the Oklahoma Youth and Government program consists of a video and print News Media, a Judicial Section containing both a mock trial and appellate court, and a three-house Legislature.
The State Conference is a three-day event that begins on Thursday night with a dinner, a keynote speaker, and a question and answer session with the two Governor Candidates.
The program provides students with the opportunity to simulate and learn government processes and problem solve for issues affecting the state.
The elected Governor and cabinet officials of the Administrative Branch are responsible for running the conventions, lobbying for or against bills, and holding press conferences.
[92][non-primary source needed] As of 2012, South Carolina sends attorney teams to the summer National Judicial Program in Chicago.
Students serve as Senators or Representatives in the General Assembly, justices or lawyers in the Supreme Court, the Governor and their cabinet (including the Commissioners of all the State Executive Branches), members of the conference press corps, or lobbyists for a firm.
Washington Youth and Government has sent representatives to the Conference on National Affairs (CONA) every year since 2009, and has been home to one Presiding Officer.
