Youth & Government

YOUTH & GOVERNMENT

Legislature

Youth elect officers, then write & debate bills on issues important to them.

Press Corps

Youth track the process of bills and focus on telling the story of each youth legislative session.

Conference on National Affairs

Over 600 youth from across the country gather to discuss and debate national and international issues.

LEGISLATURE (6th-12th Grade)

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Student Representatives and Senators elect their leadership, research current events, write bills on the issues important to them, then debate them in hopes of getting their bill passed through to the Youth Governor. Youth & Government values the opinion and thoughts of each participant - students are taught to debate the issues and not the person. Working together to find a compromise while holding true to one's values and ethical code is critical.

For 6th-7th grade youth who do not wish to debate, participants may fill the role of a lobbyist. They will choose proposed bills and/or resolutions important to them and work to help pass or kill the bill. This will be done with research, speaking with other participants, and working with the Press Corps students when possible. This will help youth to take an active role in getting their voice heard, while not debating youth 4-6 years older than them.

”Youth and Government has opened my eyes to not only problems in my community and in the world, but also the possible solutions and the leaders creating and working toward those solutions. YAG has inspired me to be part of discussions, and to pursue a career that one day hopefully addresses one of America's greatest issues. ”
Youth and Government Volunteer

Past Bill & Resolution Topics:
Dog harnesses versus leases
Change the voting age
Legalizing Marijuana
School Credits for Service
Changing the drinking age
Services for youth in foster care
Homelessness (varied subtopics)
Assisted suicide
Job training for prisoners
Physical exams for public officers
Mandatory sex-education
Creating gender neutral spaces
Healthcare (varied subtopics)
College access

VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPERIENCE

PRESS CORPS (6th-12th - Limited Positions)

Youth journalists, reporters, camera technicians, and editors will work as a team to research, interview, and present accurate articles regarding the Youth & Government program. Youth discuss ethical writing, reporting, and framing a story. Participants of the Press Crops are responsible for the general communications to YAG participants (current and former) throughout the conference.

There are a limited number of positions for Press Corps due to the nature of the work. For the 69th session of Youth & Government we are looking for 2 writers, 2 photographers, and 1 video editor to capture the program and individual stories.

CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS (9th-11th)

The YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) was started in 1968 as a follow-up to the outstanding states Youth in Government programs conducted throughout the country. The success of the conference is directly attributed to the leadership of many YMCA professionals and Laymen, but primarily to the dedication of youth involved. Typically around July 4 holiday, over 600 youth from all over the country join on Black Mountain, North Carolina at the YMCA's historical Blue Ridge Assembly.

OUR OBJECTIVES

To gain an awareness of National concerns and issues.
To increase understanding of Federal Government and its relation to State, National and International matters
To have and use a means for communicating concerns about National Affairs to appropriate persons and groups at Federal Government levels.
To develop increased understanding of needs, responsibilities and opportunities.
To work creatively together with young adults and adults
To help youth and adults to better understand and strengthen their values for living through the Christian objectives of the YMCA.

The YMCA of Honolulu has consistently sending a delegation of 4 youth. Youth must be be willing to pay and/or fund-raise the cost of the trip. Generally, the cost of airfare alone is $1,100 bringing the overall cost of the trip to approximately $1,500. The YMCA of Honolulu may have partial scholarship available, but it is not guaranteed.

RESOURCES

This section is continuously being updated to help you.

FORMS

Full YAG Registration Packet
File Size:	2459 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

YAG Dress Code
File Size:	28 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Get it Got it Good - A guide to debate
File Size:	557 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Bill & Resolution Topic Ideas
File Size:	389 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

How to write a bill
File Size:	430 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

LINKS

Hawai`i State Legislature
Review status of current bills in the legislative session and review the Hawai`i Revised Statutes (current laws)
United States Senate
This page covers the basics of bills, resolutions, and their differences.

Student Training Videos (under construction)

An oldie, but goodie. Schoolhouse Rock: America - I'm just a bill Music Video captures the democratic process in a fun, easy, way to understand.

Find the written out dress code above. Here's a fun video to capture how to look your best at all the appropriate times.

Senate Opening Session - Business Attire
Session at Camp Erdman - Business Casual (sneakers okay though)

Not sure if you have clothes? Chat with us, we can help to check our YMCA closet and see if we have something to help you out!

What the heck is POIP? Just ask our delegation from Mililani. They created this short video and acronym to help us remember the different parliamentary points of order.

See above in "Get It, Got It, GOOD!" for the written out version.

Don't know what you write your bill or resolution about? Check out this video that shows you just how simple it is. **Mr. Cassidy's feelings were not hurt in the making of this video.

See the above "Bill/Resolution Topic Ideas" file for a list of topics. Which topics stand out to you either in a good or bad way... see where that leads you.