YMCA Youth and Government
YMCA Youth and Government, also known as Youth In Government, or Model Legislature and Court, is a program of the YMCA of the USA that allows middle and high school students to serve in model governments at the local, state, national, and international levels.
The YMCA Youth and Government program currently operates in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Each state may participate in the national programs, which include: the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs, YMCA National Judicial Competition, YMCA Youth Governors Conference, YMCA Youth Advocate Program, and YMCA Changemakers Summit.
History
The YMCA Youth and Government program was established in 1936 in New York by Clement A. Duran, then the Boys Work Secretary for the Albany YMCA. The program motto, “Democracy must be learned by each generation,” was taken from a quote by Earle T. Hawkins, the founder of the Maryland Youth and Government program.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.
As of 2025, the program operates in 50 states and the District of Columbia, serving 47,000 high school students around the country.
Overview
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." They also intend to create leaders through their roles in the models of local, state and national government. The premise is that "leaders are developed by doing."The model government programs include the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government, including press corps in certain states, which are guided by teachers, volunteers or Youth Government staff. Volunteers may include attorneys from the American Bar Association, legislators, business people and other organizations, such as the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.
The Washington D.C. model follows the order of committee to city council then being signed by the elected Youth Mayor of the regional program to be passed on to the Mayor of D.C.
Branches of government
;LegislativeThe participants of the Model Legislative Assemblies are elected into or assume the roles of senators, governors, representatives, lawyers, lobbyists and the press. Bills are drafted, discussed in committee, and debated. Much of this work is conducted locally prior the model legislature, which often occurs at the state capitol in House and Senate chambers. At the state level, bills are brought before the House and Senate floors to be debated. A vote is taken to determine if it passes or not. Bills that pass the legislative process are presented to current governmental officials; In some cases bills that pass the Youth Government legislative process have been enacted into state law.
The programs are generally for high school students, but some states also have collegiate models. Middle school students may be pages. Certain states have a program specifically tailored for middle schoolers who want to learn how the United States government functions, and wish to continue onto the high school program. This section is similar to Youth & Government, but on a smaller scale, and is called Junior Youth & Government.
;Judicial
Students specific to their role—such as attorney, witness, or judge—and try a case or present a case to an appellate court. Students who are Freshman or Sophomores normally prepare a case for the Court of Appeals. Students who are Juniors and Seniors normally prepare a case for the Supreme Court. All students also get to prepare a case for the Trial Court. Students normally get a chance to argue each side of their case throughout the weekend. Throughout the weekend each student also receives a chance to judge an Appeals Court or a Supreme Court case, there are normally five to seven judges during each of these trials. Students are able to judge as many cases as they would like throughout the weekend.
;Executive
Executive branch positions may vary by state but are primarily mirrors of that state's elected offices. For example, in Maine, the positions include governor, and governor's cabinet, including: the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the Commissioner of Economic Development, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Commissioner of Natural Resources.
Other programs
;Model United Nations programsMany states have a Model United Nations program. For instance, the Northeast Region have a joint Model UN Program that serves more than 2,000 students annually, one of the largest Model UN Programs in the country. Their program has four central values: helping students find their voices, promoting global understanding, creating a sense of community and exchange of ideas, and serving others through projects that reinforce topics.
Additionally, the state of California's MUN program brings together over 1,000 middle school students from the state to represent countries from around the world and debate issues of international importance. Their program consists of: the United Nations General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, ECOSOC or the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Security Council, the Office of the Secretary-General, the International Press Corps/Department of Global Communications, and United Nations Secretariat. Each Organ elects its leadership for the year, and the conference as whole elects its Secretary General for the following year.
;National conferences
Each state may participate in the national programs. Delegates are selected to attend the Conference on National Affairs or the National Judicial Competition. The elected governors from each state attend the Youth Governor's Conference.
The National YMCA holds the Youth Conference on National Affairs at the Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina, the YMCA Changemakers Summit, YMCA Youth Advocate Program, and the Youth Governors Conference in Washington, D.C., and the National Judicial Competition at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.
;State Affairs
The State Affairs Forum, or SAF as it is commonly known, is another program in Youth and Government. Students have the opportunity to come up with a solution to an issue their state is facing, i.e. security, campus carry, etc. Students may work in groups up to 3 and present their 'proposal for action' in front of their committee room. The committee room is monitored by a chair and clerk team,
State programs
This section is a summary of state program participation. The legislative, judiciary and executive programs are generally available to high school students only. If a state has a model program for middle school students it is either the Model Legislative Assembly or Model United Nations.Some states have Model United Nations programs for high school students and/or programs for college students.
Alabama
The Alabama YMCA Youth in Government program, in operation since 1949, has simulated the five branches of government.The programs include a Youth Model Assembly of the state legislature, conducted strictly to the state's processes in the State Capitol building, and beginning in 1996 a Collegiate Model Assembly. Each year, 500-600 youth participate in the program. Since 1998, an Alabama Youth Summit is conducted at the University of Alabama with participants from Youth in Government, Alabama Boys State and Alabama Girls State to propose, draft, debate, draft and present proposed legislation the governor's office." A judicial mock trial competition is held annually in November.
The only state to do so, the Alabama Youth Legislature holds an electoral college in which delegates elect candidates for major offices.
Since its inception, the program has served tens of thousands of youth, some of whom received support and mentoring from legislators, business people and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.
Arizona
The Arizona state Youth and Government program conducts model legislative procedures at the State Capitol building. The sessions are conducted in the fall for high school students.California
The California YMCA Youth & Government organization has sponsored statewide educational programs for more than 70,000 junior high and high school students since 1948. Its mission is to "build values-based leadership and civic engagement in California's youth to strengthen our democracy."The state's high school student programs include the Model Legislature and Court, National Judicial Competition, Conference of National Affairs, and the Spring Conference. Middle school students may participate in the state's Model United Nations program. The Model Legislature & Court Intern Program is for college students. Individuals more than 21 years of age may participate in the program as a volunteer staff member or advisor. The organization also has an alumni association.
California YMCA Youth & Government operates as an independently chartered YMCA. 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.