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NATIONAL & STATE OVERVIEW
National YMCA Youth and Government
Purpose: To enhance development of the American process by enabling young students to
prepare for moral and political leadership through training in the theory and practice of
determining public policy.
- YMCA Youth and Government is a Teen Leadership program established in 1936 by
the YMCA of the USA with a motto of “Democracy Must be Learned by Each
Generatio
- Currently the program is held in 45 states involving more than 50,000 teens every
year.
- The National YMCA conducts a Youth Governors’ Conference annually in
Washington, DC where delegates meet with National leaders such as the Vice
President of the United States, Supreme Court Justices, and their own federal
legislators.
- The National YMCA also conducts a Youth Conference on National Affairs each
summer where over 500 of the best and brightest Youth and Government
representatives from over 33 states come together for a week to discuss issues of
national and international concern.
New Jersey YMCA Youth and Government
- The New Jersey program began in 1938 in Princeton and since then, thousands of
students have benefited from the experience.
- A statewide Pre-Legislative meeting and an Officers’ Training session are held where students participate in workshops on bill-writing, debating, chairing sessions, public speaking etc.
- Students are encouraged to run for offices such as Youth Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker, Clerk, and Chaplain. Students are selected through an application process to positions such as Committee Chair or Cabinet Member. Other students participate as a Press, Lobbyist, or Page Corp member.
- The Legislative weekend is held each spring in the historic NJ State House, where
students spend two and half days debating Bills which they have written.
- Each year leading State legislators have addressed the Opening Session and sworn in the Youth Officers.
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