About the Program

Since its inception in Pennsylvania in the mid 1940s, YMCA Youth & Government has grown from a simple program featuring only a Model Legislature and a Youth Governor, to an incredibly realistic and complex simulation of Pennsylvania state government, involving hundreds of young people every year. Participants have opportunities to serve as legislators, judges, attorneys, lobbyists, and media members. The YMCA Model Convention is conducted almost entirely by students. The possibilities for discovery are virtually limitless.

While the primary goal of this program is the promotion of responsible citizenship, students come away from YMCA Youth & Government with much more than a greater knowledge of the inner-workings of government. Participants sharpen their leadership skills and improve their problem solving and critical thinking abilities while they become more adept at debate and public speaking. Students build self-esteem as they learn that their ideas matter and they can make a difference in their world. Delegates meet their peers from around the state, form life-long friendships and learn to respect the views and opinions of others. As YMCA Youth & Government participants experience what it is like to run the state of Pennsylvania for a few days, they also learn a great deal about themselves - their abilities, their interests, and their responsibilities as citizens in a participatory democracy.

Program Deliverables

PA YMCA Youth & Government prides itself in providing quality educational and civic engagement programs that offer youth the following skills:

• Leadership
• Public Speaking
• Research & Writing
• Core Values & Team work
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Greater understanding of civic engagement and issues on a statewide and national levels

Branches of Youth & Government

High School and Middle School

Legislative Branch – Representatives and Senators elect their leadership, research current events, and write bills throughout the year.  For these students, the mock government experience culminates by debating their bills on the Pennsylvania House and Senate floors and seeking the signature of our Youth Governor.  Students can also participate as Lobbyists and Pages.

Executive Branch – Each year, the Mock Government Experience hosts the race for next year’s Youth Governor. Candidates create platforms and advocate their qualifications during the Gubernatorial Debate and through “grassroots” campaigning.  Once elected, the Youth Governor becomes the leader and face of youth & government. The Youth Governor hand-selects an Administration to seek the passage or failure of bills based on the Youth Governor’s platform.

Judicial Branch – In Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Chambers, student attorneys argue in a tournament-style Mock Appeals Court where student Justices preside. Student attorneys write legal briefs and prepare and present an oral argument. Justices then deliberate and issue their opinion at the end of the Mock Government Experience based on these legal briefs and oral arguments.

Press Corps – Media can be considered the fourth branch of government. Student journalists research and write articles, shape our social media presence, and conduct interviews to keep the rest of the participants up-to-date throughout the entire program year.