YMCA New Jersey Youth and Government

The Legislator position accounts for the majority of delegates at Conference.  Delegates who decide to be a Legislator must chose between being a Senator or an Assembly member.  Every Legislator must write their own personal bill and co-sponsor at least one other Legislators bill.  Legislators then attend conference and debate upon their own and other students bills within Committee and Chamber.

The following is useful information for Legislators as they prepare for conference:

Delegates in this aspect of the program have the unique opportunity of experiencing the legislative process from the perspective of a Lobbyist.  While Lobbyists are not allowed to write a bill, they are able to debate on all bills during Committee sessions and are allowed to work extensively for or against a bill in Chamber sessions. 

Delegates who take part in the Courts have the opportunity to experience the Judicial process of the Appeals Court as well as experiencing Constitutionality Debate on legislation as done in the Supreme Court.

Delegates will both present and deliberate three cases during the Conference Weekend.  The presentation part of the case will require the participants to write a brief before the Conference and present an oral argument before the court.  The deliberation part of the Conference will require the delegates to hear the arguments of a case, question the attorney presenting the case, and wriet an opinion outlining the outcome of the case as well as the reasoning for the outcome.

New to the 2011 Conference, delegates will also be given pieces of Legislation during the Conference Weekend.  Time will be allotted for reserach and preparing of arguments for and against the bills.  Delegates will then partake in the presentation of arguments as well as deliberation on the proposed Legislation.

Important Dates:

• March 13th, 2011  --Pre-Legislative Session
                                           --Outline of Case Briefs Due
• April 1st, 2011  --Judicial Briefs Due
  

HelpfuL REsources:

Officers Contact --please feel free to contact the Chief Justice for any assignment or procedural questions you may have!

 Judicial Manual  --this item contains all of the procedural and assignment information for the Judicial Program.  

Court Cases:  the 2011 Cases have been uploaded.
     -Case 1:   Abortion    
     -Case 2:   Right to Remain Silent  
     -Case 3:   Search 

The new Press Corps will be actively engaged in the legislative process of the conference, and their work will have a direct impact on the outcome of bill debate.  The Press Corps will be divided into two seperate and ideologically competing newsletters:  each will publish with the goal of persuading delegates to vote in line with their ideological platform:

Journalists will be required to select several bills of personal interest.  Throughout the course of the Conference weekend, journalists will be expected to push for the passage of these bills through the use of Op-Ed pieces.  Journalists will also have the opportunity to observe bill debate in chambers, take part in bill debate in committees, interview bill authors, and supplement articles with their own opinions and background research.  The goal of this years Press Corps is to better simulate the effect of media on public opinion and legislative outcomes.

The following is useful information for the Press Corps as they prepare for conference:

IMPORTANT DATES:

• March 4th, 2011 --Press Corps Questionnaire Due
  Program Staff will e-mail delegates back with their assigned "Newspaper" and a follow-up reading before Pre-Leg
  
  
• March 13th, 2011 --Pre-Legislative Session
  Press Members will work with members of their "Newspaper" and select Bills of Interest.  New assignments will be issued.
  
  
• April 1st, 2011  --Final Submission
  Op-Ed Pieces and General Articles Due for First Newsapaper. 

HELPFUL DOCUMENTS

 Press Corps Questionnaire  --1st assignment for all members in the Press Corps

More documents coming soon!

The Junior Legislators Program is designed to allow seventh (7^th) or eight (8^th) graders understand the legislative process and structure.  Delegates will simulate various aspects of the conference and experience the same debate and problem solving situations as their high school counterparts.