Youth In Government

The State Y.M.C.A. Youth In Government program provides about 1,600 high school students with a unique opportunity to become acting state legislators, lobbyists, lawyers, committee chairs, etc. In essence the students will simulate all phases and positions that the actual state government calls for. These students are challenged with many of the issues our real legislators must face in their elected offices.

Youth from throughout the state are selected as delegates from student councils, government classes or Y.M.C.A.s and spend months researching for the event. These students then may go through an election process for leadership positions in the House, Senate, as well as the executive branch. They work in chambers to introduce, debate and vote on proposed legislative bills which have been written by the youth legislators in their hometowns.

The fall conference is held during the fall of each year after local Youth In Government groups and delegations have been formed. Delegates to the conference elect youth officers for the model executive, legislative and judicial session. Nominating speeches, balloons, and countless pieces of campaign literature are distributed to the delegates. Elections occur by individual ballot.