New York State Youth & Government

Program Description

The program begins at the local level, where young people identify a community issue of concern, with the assistance of their local YMCA or Youth & Government affiliated school. The participants conduct extensive research on their issue and write a document based on their findings. Local attorneys and government officials are consulted during this process. After the documents have been presented at the District conference, they are sent to the New York State Youth & Government Model Legislative Program.

The second stage of the Program is the District Conference. Participants are trained in parliamentary procedure, legislative committee process, debate, press relations, and lobbying techniques. At this level, a judicial seminar or model Appellate Court is conducted for the students participating in the judicial program.

The third stage is the Albany Model Legislative weekend. Every year during the spring, participants travel to Albany to implement the Youth & Government program events in the authentic surroundings of the State Capitol, the Legislative Office Building and the Judicial Building. The Albany weekend culminates several months of hard work for participants; for three intensive days, they become completely immersed in the political process.

Every participant involved in the program has a specific responsibility. Students may participate as legislators, or may become involved in the executive or judicial programs or as a lobbyist, press corps member or page.

Legislators debate and vote upon Senate and Assembly bills. Lobbyists lobby for or against particular issues; the Press Corps reports events in the newspaper that they publish. The Governor and his/her Cabinet discuss the legislative bills and decided which pieces of legislation may be signed into law.

The youth Chief Justice and his Associate judges conduct the hearings at the Model Court of Appeals based upon a realistic case that is distributed in advance; two teams of young attorneys represent both the Petitioner and the Respondent parts.

Students interested in obtaining an elected position campaign for next year's Statewide offices. In the midst of this flurry, new friendships, intense personal growth and confidence all blossom overnight.

The fourth stage of the program takes place when the delegates meet with their local representatives to lobby for bills passed by the legislature, resolutions of Judicial Conference and executive actions proposed in the Executive Report. More than 80 current New York State laws were first introduced in the New York State Youth & Government Legislature.

The final stage of the process is the Spring Conference for Youth Officers and Outstanding Participants. The Youth Leadership Group meet again in Albany with the purposes of visiting government officials, evaluating the previous conference, and receiving training and preparation to become delegates to the National Affairs Conference and National Youth Governors Conference. The Spring Conference is also the starting point of every year's program.

Benefits to the Students:

State legislators and senators take an active interest in the program in their communities and at the State House. Through meeting and observing the legislators, students have a chance to see how the state government is run and may also have opportunities for internships at local offices or at the State House.

Participation in the program improves college applications since most major colleges and universities recognize the worth of a leadership role in the YMCA Youth & Government program. It also shows the student's interest in his or her society and community, dedication to an ongoing project, ability to work with others and maturity.

Young people from all over the State participate in YMCA Youth & Government. They learn a great deal from meeting each other and many forge lasting friendships. Unlike classroom experience, Youth & Government is a hands-on experience. Delegates learn by doing and have the opportunity to try their hand at leadership in a safe learning environment.

Perhaps the most important benefit of the program, not only for the students but for society at large, is that it teaches young people how to become active citizens in a democracy. There has been a growing lack of confidence in government, and Youth & Government shows high school students that they can play a significant role in New York State government.

Program Fees:

March State Conference program fees are: $225 for teens and $232 for adults that includes: shared room stay at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, all meals (except Sunday Continental breakfast), transportation to the Capitol in Albany, Bill Book, notebook, t shirt.

Individual YMCA's and Districts may charge minor additional fees to cover transportation expenses to Albany, or advisor fees. Some students advance to additional leadership roles where individual YMCA's strive to absorb these leadership teens expenses for additional program opportunities.

Certainly donations are accepted to the program to defray the expense to each delegate.